AIG hospitals studying efficacy of monoclonal antibodies cocktail on double mutant variant
The hospital will recruit 100 patients including those aged above 65 years, people with obesity or diabetes and those suffering from chronic kidney disorder and cardiovascular diseases, who are the most vulnerable to Covid-19.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 28 May 2021 4:40 AM GMT
Hyderabad: AIG Hospitals are conducting a major study to check the efficacy of the cocktail of monoclonal antibodies - Casirivimab and Imdevimab - manufactured by the Swiss drugmaker Roche, against coronavirus variant B.1.167, also known as the 'double mutant' variant.
AIG Hospitals will be conducting an independent investigative study on 100 patients infected with the double mutant strain. They are currently in talks with some academic institutions and labs for tie-ups for the study, AIG Hospitals chairman Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy said.
"Monoclonal antibodies based treatment for Covid-19 can be given to patients who are above 65 years of age, comorbid conditions, and immune compromised only," said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) Hospitals.
The hospital will recruit 100 patients including those aged above 65 years, people with obesity or diabetes and those suffering from chronic kidney disorder and cardiovascular diseases, who are the most vulnerable to Covid-19. The researchers will study if the monoclonal antibodies can save them from severe disease progression and hospitalization.
Dr. Reddy said the antibodies will not prove effective among patients who are already hospitalized or are on high-flow oxygen or ventilator support and is also not recommended for pregnant women. As the usage of the cocktail has been allowed in India, Dr. Reddy stressed that the timing of the dose plays a crucial role.
This drug cocktail gained traction after it was administered to former US President Donald Trump. So far, the drug cocktail has proved to be effective against other variants in the world, according to reports in medical journals.
But there is no data on how it will work against the double variant. However, this is based on the studies conducted in the USA. The study being conducted at AIG Hospitals would help in finding out how effective the antibodies are against the double mutant variant. Dr. Reddy said that there was a possibility to explore the prophylactic usage of this combination.
