WHO recommends 2 new COVID Treatments

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two new drugs to treat coronavirus. The recommendations come as cases spike around the world, and could especially serve lower-income countries that have struggled to contain the disease due to lack of vaccines and other medical necessities.

WHO strongly recommends baricitinib, an oral drug typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, for patients with severe or critical symptoms. Administering it with corticosteroids is recommended.

WHO is also conditionally recommending use of the monoclonal antibody drug sotrovimab for treating mild or moderate symptoms in patients at high risk of hospitalization, including patients who are older, immunocompromised and unvaccinated.

“The extent to which these medicines will save lives depends on how widely available and affordable they will be,” the organization said in a release.

It was gathered that the recommendations are based on evidence from seven trials involving over 4,000 patients who exhibited a wide range of COVID symptoms.