Lagatar24 Desk
Geneva, Jan 14: Two new medications have been suggested on Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat COVID-19. To prevent major disease and death from Covid-19, it advised the arthritis drugs called Baricitinib and synthetic antibody treatment Sotrovimab. Baricitinib, in combination with corticosteroids, was strongly suggested as an alternative to interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blockers in the treatment of severe or critical Covid patients, according to the experts. They claimed that combining baricitinib with corticosteroids improved survival rates and reduced the requirement for ventilators in severe Covid patients.
“The strong recommendation for baricitinib in those with severe or critical illness reflects moderate certainty evidence for benefits on mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital length of stay (high certainty) with no observed increase in adverse effects leading to drug discontinuation,” the updated WHO guidelines say.
Baricitinib and IL-6 receptor blockers like tocilizumab and sarilumab, according to the experts, have similar effects, and the choice should be based on factors including cost and clinician experience.
They also suggested Sotrovimab for those with non-serious Covid who are at high risk of being admitted to the hospital, such as the elderly and those with chronic conditions.
In patients with non-severe disease, the administration of Sotrovimab resulted in a significant reduction in the likelihood of hospitalisation, as well as minor advantages in those at lower risk. According to the guidelines, however, the medicine has little or no effect on mortality or mechanical ventilation.
“There were insufficient data to recommend one monoclonal antibody treatment over another, and evidence on their efficacy for emerging variants is likely to influence future recommendations,” it said.
