Patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infections will soon have access to a new treatment that could prevent death.
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced on Friday the provisional approval of GlaxoSmithKline's sotrovimab, making it available for use in hospitals next week.
He said the monoclonal antibody mimics the body's immune system and is likely to help about eight to 13 per cent of patients.
"So it's not a result for everybody but it's particularly likely to help those who are at risk of progressing to very serious illness," Mr Hunt said.
"It is the first but not last treatment that's likely to improve prospects."
Australia is the first OECD country to issue a formal regulatory approval for sotrovimab.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration's approval of the treatment, under strict conditions, targets adults and adolescents who are at increased risk of hospitalisation or death.
Vaccination remains the preferred and primary option to prevent COVID-19.
The government has secured 7700 doses of sotrovimab for the national medical stockpile.
