Covid: what are baricitinib and sotrovimab, the new drugs authorized by the WHO to treat cases of the disease
The World Health Organization authorized the use of the drugs baricitinib and sotrovimab for the treatment of covid-19.
According to the information provided by the WHO, The endorsement of the use of these drugs was given after several evaluations made mainly by international experts working in a Guidelines Development Group of the health agency and whose results were published in the British Medical Journal.
baricitinib is an anti-inflammatory used especially in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, while sotromivab is a drug newor that has been tested to treat patients at risk of develop covid- moderate to severe and is in use in the UK, among other countries.
In research published by The WHO working group recommends the use of baricitinib in severe patients, since it increases the probability of surviving the complications that the coronavirus can cause, in addition to reducing the need for mechanical ventilation.
While sotrovimab is recommended in moderate cases to prevent them from getting worse.
The study also found that does not have severe side effects.
The WHO also discouraged the use of two other drugs: ruxolitinib and tofacitinib, because the evaluations that have been made with them did not show benefits for patients and in the case of tofacitinib even it was observed that it could cause adverse effects.
And again, the entity again discouraged the use of remdesivir and ivermectin, two drugs that have gained popularity since the start of the pandemic but do not have scientific support for these cases.
The WHO recommends the use of baricitinib in severely ill patients.
This increases to five the list of authorized drugs for the treatment of covid-19. In severe or critical cases: corticosteroids, IL-6RB and baricitinib. And in moderate cases: REGN-COV and sotrovimab.
After hearing the news, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) asked governments to make what is necessary so that patents are not an obstacle to access to treatment.
What is baricitinib
According to the WHO, baricitinib is a Janus kinase inhibitor drug. It serves especially to reduce inflammation and is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The research, which included more than 4. people, determined that this drug in combination with corticosteroids, a variety of hormones used to treat arthritis, can help the patient avoid resorting to mechanical ventilation in the most severe cases of the disease that produces the new coronavirus.
In this case, MSF pointed out that in many countries baricitinib is under patent of the US company Eli Lilly , which sells it at a price close to US$2.000 dollars, and that this could affect the use of this drug for the treatment of patients in countries with fewer resources.
“In countries like Bangladesh or India a generic version of this drug can be obtained for less than US$6, but in many countries ses generic baricitinib is not available because it is under a patent monopoly with Eli Lilly, a company that has applied for and obtained patents in many places, including countries hard hit by the pandemic, such as Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and Russia”, added the organization.
🔥 Our latest @WHO living guidance on drugs for #COVID16:
For its part, the Eli Lilly laboratory in a communication sent to BBC Mundo, noted that: “The new guidelines are positive news for healthcare providers and patients as they offer additional clarity on the potential use of baricitinib in hospitalized patients with covid-19, according to the study data”.
“Lilly is working with hospitals, health professionals and governments to facilitate patient access to baricitinib and continues to explore the drug’s potential use in covid-000 with the regulatory agencies”.
“Lilly is actively working with international partners to understand the regions with ne unsatisfied needs, since the supply of treatments against covid-19 to low/lower-middle income countries depends on the capacity of each country to accept and approve medicines for emergency use”, added the laboratory.
But the WHO also noted in its recommendation that baricitinib “has effects similar to those of other drugs to combat arthritis, called interleukin 6 inhibitors, so when both are available, it is suggested choose one based on cost, availability and the doctor’s preference”.
And the body adds that the use of both drugs at the same time is not recommended .
A biological drug
On the other hand, sotrovimab is a drug that began to be used by the UK National Health Service (NHS), among others, to prove it and n treatment in patients moderately affected by covid.
According to experts, sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody that is administered as a transfusion to transplant recipients, cancer patients and other high-risk groups.
And according to the results of research done by the WHO and the NHS, if administered quickly after symptoms develop, should help prevent people from getting seriously ill.
Sotrovimab has been used in the United Kingdom in the last few months to treat moderate cases of covid-19.
“ These new drugs have an important role to play,” Steven Powis, national medical director of the NHS in England, told the BBC.
According to Powis, the administration of this drug is focused on patients who have underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory conditions, and who may be severely affected by the virus.
In addition, the evidence suggests that the drug should work against the omicron variant.
Access
In Latin America, baricitinib has already been authorized for use in the treatment of patients with covid-19 last July in Mexico.
In most of the countries of the region the drug can be obtained for the treatment of arthritis and with the authorization of the WHO it will surely begin to be used in local treatments.
While sotrovimab has already been approved for use in several European countries, in Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Now you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download our app and activate them so you don’t miss our best content.
Do you already know our YouTube channel? Subscribe!
