WHO Backs Arthritis Drugs In Covid Fight
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The Word Health Organisation (WHO) has given its backing to the use of some anti-arthritis drugs in the treatment of Covid-19.
It has backed Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor Baricitinib and interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors for use after medical research found they were effective in helping patients battle severe disease. However, its studies established that two other JAK drugs, Ruxolitinib and Tofacitinib, were ineffective. In addition, the use of Tofacitinib produced significant side-effects.
The drugs are normally used to block enzymes and treat rheumatoid arthritis. The WHO studies revealed Baricitinib and IL-6 reduce the need for ventilation among seriously ill patients while providing no serious side effects.
Study co-author Dr Michael Jacobs at University College London said: “The drug baricitinib is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids.”
He added: “Their strong recommendation is based on moderate certainty evidence that it improves survival and reduces the need for ventilation, with no observed increase in adverse effects.”
Fellow author Dr Leticia Kawano-Dourado noted that while vaccination has helped greatly reduce the numbers of people needing hospital treatment, it “remains of interest” to carry on researching therapies for treating Covid among very sick patients, due to the possibility that further mutations may follow Omicron and evade vaccine protection.
The news comes as the Omicron variant continues to sweep around the world, although the wave swiftly peaked in South Africa, where it was first found, and appears to have now done so in the UK as cases have fallen consistently since almost 245,000 cases were recorded on January 4th.
While the lower severity of the strain and the benefits of vaccines have helped keep hospital admission levels well below previous levels in European countries, the United States and Canada are currently experiencing their highest numbers of hospitalisations following a post-Christmas surge in numbers.
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