WHO approves two new treatments for coronavirus

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WHO approves two new treatments for coronavirus (Image: Pixabay)
WHO approves two new treatments for coronavirus (Image: Pixabay)

New Delhi : The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved two new treatments against the coronavirus to ensure more lives can be saved from the deadly virus.

The news comes at a time when omicron variant of coronavirus has overwhelmed several nations.

In their recommendation in British medical Journal the BMJ, WHO experts said arthritis drug baricitinib used with corticosteroids to treat severe or critical Covid patients led to better survival rates and reduced need for ventilators.

The experts have also recommended using synthetic antibody treatment Sotrovimab for people with non-serious Covid at highest risk of hospitalisation, such as the elderly, people with immunodeficiencies or chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Arthritis drugs tocilizumab and sarilumab, which the WHO endorsed in July, are IL-6 inhibitors that suppress a dangerous overreaction of the immune system to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Baricitinib is in a different class of drugs known as Janus kinase inhibitors, but it falls under the same guidelines as the IL-6 inhibitors.

"When both are available, choose one based on issues including cost and clinician experience," the guidelines say.