COVID-19: WHO recommends two new drugs for treatment
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended two new drugs, Baricitinib and Sotrovimab, for the treatment of COVID-19.
WHO disclosed this in a statement obtained on its website on Sunday, adding that the drugs would save lives, subject to their availability and affordability.
According to the global health agency, the two drugs are recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19 and treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalization, respectively.
“The first drug, Baricitinib, is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical COVID-19. It is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase inhibitors that suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. WHO recommends that it is given with corticosteroids.
“Baricitinib is an oral drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It provides an alternative to other arthritis drugs called Interleukin-6 receptor blockers, recommended by WHO in July 2021.
“Sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody drug for treating mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalisation.
“Sotrovimab is also an alternative to Casirivimab-imdevimab, a monoclonal antibody cocktail recommended by WHO in September 2021.
“Studies are ongoing on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against Omicron but early laboratory studies show that Sotrovimab retains its activity,” WHO wrote on its website.
