Posted on 01/15/2022 6:25:35 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two new drugs to treat COVID-19—baricitinib and sotrovimab.
Baricitinib, an oral drug, is “strongly recommended” for people with severe or critical COVID-19, to be given with cortico steroids, the WHO announced.
Baricitinib is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. The drug is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
The WHO’s Guideline Development Group found “moderate certainty evidence that baricitinib improved survival and reduced the need for ventilation, with no observed increase in adverse effects.”
Sotrovimab is “conditionally recommended” for people with mild or moderate COVID-19 but at “high risk” of hospitalization. This includes people who are “older, immunocompromised, having underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, and those unvaccinated,” stated the United Nations agency.
Sotrovimab is administered as a single intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. It is a monoclonal antibody drug, and can be used as an alternative to casirivimab-imdevimab, another monoclonal antibody that the WHO recommended in September 2021. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-created proteins designed to act like human antibodies in the immune system.
“Studies are ongoing on the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies against Omicron but early laboratory studies show that sotrovimab retains its activity,” the agency stated.
The recommendation on Jan. 14 is the eighth update of the agency’s living guidelines on therapeutics and COVID-19, published in the British Medical Journal, and is based on evidence from seven trials encompassing over 4,000 patients with COVID-19 ranging from non-severe to critical.
The panel of experts behind the guidelines also reviewed information regarding two other drugs for severe and critical COVID-19—JAK inhibitors ruxolitinib and tofacitinib.
They determined that evidence from small trials “failed to show benefit and suggested a possible increase in serious side effects with tofacitinib.” The WHO has since made a conditional recommendation against their use.
Humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) applauded the new WHO recommendation for baricitinib. In a statement, the group urged governments to take steps to make sure that patent protections “do not stand in the way of access to this treatment.”
MSF noted that U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly filed and obtained patents widely, including in Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and Indonesia, therefore blocking the production of affordable versions of baricitinib.
“Despite the fact that baricitinib is already approved for other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis—and generic versions are already available in India and Bangladesh at much lower prices than those being charged by Eli Lilly—baricitinib will not be widely available to treat COVID-19 as long as the company continues to block the generic production in most places,” MSF stated.
“An Indian manufacturer priced baricitinib at $5.50 per treatment course of 4mg once per day for 14 days, and the lowest listed price in Bangladesh (pdf) is $6.70. This is nearly 400 times less than Eli Lilly’s exorbitant listed price in July of $2,326 per treatment course.”
Hydroxy has been used to treat RA inflammation for decades.
Why not “approve” hydroxy?
Only costs about $25 for a full course of treatment.
Evidence=free disinformation.
Evidence-free disinformation.
We have been using baricitinib for a fair amount of time (8 months or so) its an IL-6 inhibitor which is designed to stop inflammatory cascade once the disease progresses. It is with mixed results, I think on the whole it helps late phase disease, but certainly is not a silver bullet.
The other is a single -MAB that shows reasonably good efficacy.
Thanks for posting this.
Why not approve HCQ — because it doesnt help. Ivermectin has a stronger track record although still is marginal, and far inferior when compared to the monoclonals for early treatment.
Just got 60 200 mg for $30.00 plus shipping.
Good info. We have a friend who has rheumatoid arthritis. I’ll check to see if she is prescribed Baricitinib (or its generic).
I’ll pass on any new drug designed to “fight” Covid.
Why not just allow hgc and Ivermectin to be used?
RE: Why not just allow hgc and Ivermectin to be used?
That has been my question for over a year now.
you can try cinchona bark..used in ancient days for malaria prior to HQC
I am using it to try to deal with an issue that is not officially diagnosed and therefore I can’t get plaquenil. It seems to be helping but I dont take it every day due to concerns about what it might do to the liver.
HCQ appears to be effective for many, including myself. May the odds be ever in your favor with taking a failing experimental treatment that you can’t Socratically answer what do the five year safety trials indicate?
First the hunger games quote is well played — I appreciate that level of discourse.
Secondly the fact is that mRNA platforms have been tested for over a decade. I am ok with people not getting vaccinated — it should be a choice I am comfortable with the data as presented and do not see disproportionate risk. There are a lot of stories told, but in my judgment the risks are outweighed by the benefits
As for treatments, the first monoclonals were used over 30 years ago. The have a safe and long track record. Which is why as a therapeutic I think monoclonals should be what a patient seeks. I am lucky — I can get them quite readily where I am — whatever you may believe about HCQ and ivermectin is fine — there is sufficient literature to support multiple views (with ivermectin having slightly stronger objective data than HCQ). However in all cases, -mabs are superior to either HCQ and Ivermectin which is why I will not use the former two therapies, because I know of a superior and available therapy.
Ka ching
Thank you for your response.
‘the fact is that mRNA platforms have been tested for over a decade’
- I would suggest most know that is not a reason to continue testing on folks and now children. And BTW it is closer to two decades.
Treatments? Hmmm - I am not going to pretend to have a panacea for a RNA respiratory virus. If one is for trying to treat the disease before hospitalization with new or even off label safe drugs then I am in agreement.
As for borrowing from the Hunger Games - Yeah it is getting old. But still makes me grin. Cheers
I completely agree - I see NO reason to vaccinate an yonder 18, and honestly, probably no one under 40 who is healthy. If you have co-morbidities — it is probably reasonable.
My feelings are pretty fell elucidated — I do think monoclonals are superior to any other medications that are off label. I am of the belief, however, this is all academic as in the next 4 weeks with everyone having omicron this thing is finally over.
I am watching the hunger games now because of y our quote —
I hope you have a nice evening. Stay well.
Nope. Never taking anything that turns my immune system off. Nope.
Will do gas-dr. We agree are parts of this issue.
My main symptom at this point is an annoying semi productive cough felt in my upper chest. I’m 68 with a BMI of 25 but mild hypertension. Should someone in my situation seek monoclonals at this point or just continue to self treat? I feel like the worst is over and I don’t need medical attention, but my BP is higher than normal since I caught covid, which is concerning, as well as my coughing. What should I be on the lookout for at this point?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.