Over 200 coronavirus patients at a civic hospital who were administered monoclonal antibodies showed a remarkable recovery following the treatment, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday.
When in November last year, US President Donald Trump was given the monoclonal antibodies it made news as a treatment for COVID-19. He was given this as a treatment after he tested positive for the disease on the election campaign trail.
It was described as an “experimental antibody cocktail” that was “one of the most promising candidates”.
The BMC claimed in a release on Monday that monoclonal antibodies treatment has shown successful results for over 200 COVID-19 patients at the civic body’s Seven Hills Hospital at Andheri in the western suburbs.
According to the release, after given the cocktail composed of Casirivimab and Imdevimab that i cleared for use in mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in high-risk patients, there were only 0.5 per cent patients who needed oxygen and the mortality rate was also reduced by 70 per cent.
The previous requirement of 13-14 days of hospitalization was also reduced to only 5 to 6 days after the cocktail was administered, the release said.
The BMC said, terming the “successful experimentation” with this drug combination a “respite” ahead of the third wave the therapy is succeeding against the backdrop of the predicted third wave of coronavirus.
“Trump was given the same cocktail of drugs after he contracted coronavirus. Since then, his health has improved significantly,” the BMC claimed.
The drugs were registered in India with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization on May 10, 2021, and have been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India, the BMC said.
This cocktail was given through saline to a total of 212 COVID-19 patients at the Seven Hills Hospital.
There have been conclusions that the treatment of 199 patients, of which there were 101 patients in the 18-45 years age group, 45 patients in the 45-59 years age group, and 53 patients above 60 years.
The BMC said, “Of the 199 patients, 74 have at least one co-morbidity.” All the 199 patients were in the mild to moderate infection group, it added.
However, at the beginning of treatment, 179 had a fever, while 158 had a cough with or without fever and about four patients were in Oxygen support.
BMC claimed that it was seen that fever subsided within 48 hours after giving the cocktail medicine.
“Out of 199, only one person had to be supplied with oxygen. This proportion is only 0.5 per cent. It is a great relief, considering the amount of oxygen that was needed earlier for coronavirus patients,” the BMC said.
At least 20 per cent of the patients in the first and second waves, had to be given oxygen and five per cent of patients had to undergo intensive care (ICU) treatment, it said.
The BMC, adding the death toll has also dropped by a staggering 70 percent said, the civic body said monoclonal antibody cocktails can be administered to patients above 12 years of age who weigh at least 40 kg and no side effects have been reported in any of the patients so far.
“This cocktail can be given to patients having diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, asthma and other acute respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, sickle cell, cerebral palsy, etc,” the BMC said.
“Considering the medical manpower, it is possible to provide treatment through OPD and as the duration of hospital stay of the patient is reduced, it will also help in relieving the work stress on doctors,” the BMC claimed.
As there is no need for oxygen supply and either expensive medications, avoiding the need for hospitalization, this treatment is also financially beneficial, the release said.
