Drug firm Roche India has received the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for a Covid-19 antibody-drug cocktail for the treatment of coronavirus patients. The antibody cocktail of Casirivimab and Imdevimab drug is developed by Roche and Regeneron.
According to Roche India, the approval of antibody cocktail was based on the data filed for the EUA in the US, and the scientific opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in the European Union.
Who all can take Roche antibody cocktail treatment
The antibody cocktail is to be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 infection in adults and Covid positive children who are 12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40 kg.
Donald Trump’s antibody cocktail treatment
The antibody treatment was administered to former US President Donald Trump. Trump had touted Regeneron’s antibody cocktail as a cure and key to his recovery.
What is an antibody cocktail
An antibody cocktail is a mixture of two or more unique biological drugs that act like human antibodies in the immune system and help fight off infection.
A cocktail is a mixture of two drugs- Casirivimab and imdevimab are laboratory-made proteins that are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The antibody cocktail drug works best in case of mild infection and blocks the virus’s entry into human cells.
Meanwhile, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the emergency use of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) as an adjunct therapy in moderate to severe Covid-19 patients.
Covid-19 India tally
As India is battling a deadly second Covid wave, Roche antibody cocktail treatment could significantly help high-risk patients and ease pressure on the healthcare system.
India continued to report more than four lakh daily coronavirus infections for the fourth day today. With 4,03,738 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the cumulative national tally of the infection went up to 2,22,96,414, the Union Health Ministry informed today. At present, India has 37,36,648 active coronavirus cases.
4,092 deaths related deaths were also registered in the last 24 hours, taking the total COVID-related death toll to 2,42,362.
Ten states worst affected by the coronavirus
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are among 10 states that account for 71.75 per cent of the 4,03,738 new COVID-19 cases registered in a day, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. The other states in the list of 10 are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
Unified Pension Scheme (UPS): How it differs from NPS and OPS
India braces for heatwave: Top tips to stay safe in sweltering conditions
Stress managemnt: 10 tips to manage anxiety issues