Odisha: Antibody Cocktail Therapy For COVID Patients To Begin In Govt Hospitals

Bhubaneswar: The monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy for COVID-19 patients will soon start in medical colleges and government hospitals across Odisha.

In a letter to superintendents of all medical colleges and all CDM and PHOs, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, PK Mohapatra, said Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b (PegIFN) and Casirivimab and Imdevimab will be made available to the prescribing physician and these have to been used by strictly complying to the indication and requirement under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) regulations.

The Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has approved the emergency use of the COVID monoclonal antibody cocktail. The Drugs Controller General of India has also given permission to use these drugs under EUA. It is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies. 

The letter further added that the drugs will be kept in stock at OSMCL and other selected distribution sites. “These will be issued against the requisition by the prescribing physician through superintendent and CDM and PHO,” he added.

The therapy had begun on June 1 in Odisha when an 82-year-old man from Bhubaneswar with comorbidities was administered the antibody cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) at Apollo Hospitals here.

Also Read: COVID-19: Private Hospital In Bhubaneswar Starts Antibody Cocktail Therapy

The antibody cocktail treatment is for mild to moderate coronavirus disease in non-hospitalised patients, who are confirmed to be infected with SARS-COV2 and stand a high risk of developing a serious COVID-19 disease. It has also been recommended for 12 years or older, weighing at least 40 kg.

Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b (PegIFN) has been developed by domestic pharmaceutical major Zydus Cadila while Casirivimab and Imdevimab are from Switzerland-based drugmaker Roche.

Also Read: Know What Is COVID Antibody Cocktail Treatment, Who Should Take The Therapy