THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended two new drugs for the treatment of Covid-19.
The drugs – Baricitinib and Sotrovimab – were 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.
In a statement on its website, yesterday, the United Nations agency said the extent to which the drugs would save lives depends on their availability and affordability.
The statement read: “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 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.”
