Filenews 14 January 2022
An international team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending two new drugs to be added to the therapeutic "arsenal" against Covid-19. These are the drug Baricitinib (a JAK inhibitor also used against rheumatoid arthritis) and the monoclonal antibody Sotrovimab.
For the first drug, a strong recommendation is given to use, in combination with corticosteroids, in patients with severe or life-threatening Covid-19. The recommendation is made after interim certainty that Baricitinib improves the likelihood of survival and reduces the need for intubation of patients, without increasing the observed side effects.
WHO (WHO Guideline Development Group) experts point out that the drug has similar effects to other anti-arthritic drugs, interleukin-6 inhibitors (IL-6). Therefore, when both types of medicines are available, doctors can choose whichever they deem based on their cost, availability and clinical experience, but it is not recommended to administer both drugs simultaneously.
Experts also do not recommend the use of two other JAK inhibitors (Ruxolitinib and Tofacitinib) in patients with severe or critical Covid-19, due to the hitherto insufficient evidence from clinical studies that these drugs bring any benefit, while the latter may also cause increased side effects.
Regarding the monoclonal antibody Sotrovimab, the WHO recommends its use in patients with non-severe Covid-19, but only in those most at risk of being hospitalized, as the benefits of the drug seem small for those with a low risk of hospitalization. A similar recommendation was made by the WHO for the "cocktail" of monoclonal antibodies Casirivimab-Indevimab. Experts say there is insufficient data to show a preference for one treatment over the other, while acknowledging that the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against the Omikron variant is still uncertain.
Also, the WHO panel of experts continues to advocate the use of blood plasma from recoverers, Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine in Covid-19 patients, regardless of the severity of the disease.
Source: ANA
