Medicines reduce hospital stay, mortality by 70 per cent in 199 patients analysed so far; civic doctors say they can save resources, expedite treatment and even work for the co-morbid
The mix was given to patients as an experiment. Representation pic
The civic body has claimed that a pilot study combining two antibody drugs, casirivimab and imdevimab, has been successful in treating over 200 Covid-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms at SevenHills Hospital. Only one patient required oxygen supply after the combined medication and the mortality rate reduced by 70 per cent.
The hospitalisation period reduced to five-six days from 13-14. Doctors claimed that the drug combination will reduce side effects by avoiding the use of other drugs like remdesivir, steroids, etc.
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In the past year and a half, various medicines have been tried by the civic body to treat patients. The above two drugs have been given to 212 patients through saline and the analysis of 199 patients is complete.
Of the 199 patients with mild to moderate infection, 101 were aged 18 to 45 years, 45 were aged 45 to 59 years and 53 were aged above 60 years; 74 had at least one comorbidity.
At the start of the treatment, 179 patients had a fever, 158 had a cough with or without fever, four needed oxygen. The average HRCT score of the patients was 7 to 8 out of 25, with 25 being the worst. The highest HRCT score was 11.
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Stopped fever
It was noticed that the fever stopped within 48 hours after administering the mixed medicine. Of the 199, only one person (0.5 per cent) had to be supplied oxygen. “In the first and second waves, at least 20 per cent patients had to be given oxygen. Five per cent patients had to undergo intensive care (ICU) treatment. Most importantly, no side effects were reported in any patient and mortality dropped by 70 per cent compared to those who did not get the medicines,” said Dr Maharudra Kumbhar, an officer on special duty at SevenHills.
It takes an hour to give the medicines mixed in saline. They can also be given through the outpatient care department (OPD) without hospitalisation.
The combination was also used to treat former US President Donald Trump. In India, the drugs were recently registered with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on May 10.
Who can get the drug
The cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab is given to infected patients above 12 years of age and who weigh more than 40 kg. “These mixed medications are given to mild to moderate patients who do not need oxygen supply but are at risk of further deterioration. Importantly, it is possible to treat those with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, asthma and other acute respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, sickle cell, cerebral palsy with this mix,” said Dr Balkrishna Adsul, dean of Seven Hills Hospital.
“Considering the medical manpower, it is possible to provide treatment to the patient on the basis of OPD. As the length of stay of the patient in the hospital is reduced, it will also help in relieving the stress on doctors,” said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC.
212
No. of patients given the drugs so far
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