WHO updates its treatment guidelines to include molnupiravir

This ninth update of WHO’s guideline on therapeutics includes a recommendation that casirivimab-imdevimab not be used for patients infected with the Omicron variant

Geneva, 3 March 2022 | WHO has updated its living guidelines on COVID-19 therapeutics to include a conditional recommendation on molnupiravir, a new antiviral medicine.

This is the first oral antiviral drug to be included in the treatment guidelines for COVID-19. As this is a new medicine, there is little safety data. WHO recommends active monitoring for drug safety, along with other strategies to mitigate potential harms.

Because of these concerns and data gaps, molnupiravir should be provided only to non-severe COVID-19 patients with the highest risk of hospitalization. These are typically people who have not received a COVID-19 vaccination, older people, people with immunodeficiencies and people living with chronic diseases.

Children, and pregnant and breastfeeding women should not be given the drug. People who take molnupiravir should have a contraceptive plan, and health systems should ensure access to pregnancy testing and contraceptives at the point of care.

Under the care of a health care provider, molnupiravir, an oral tablet, is given as four tablets (total 800 mg) twice daily for five days; within 5 days of symptom onset. Used as early as possible after infection, it can help prevent hospitalization.

Today’s recommendation is based on new data from six randomized controlled trials involving 4,796 patients. This is the largest dataset on this drug so far.

Along with a recommendation on molnupiravir, this ninth update of WHO’s living guideline on therapeutics includes an update on casirivimab-imdevimab, a monoclonal antibody cocktail. Based on evidence that this combination of drugs is ineffective against the Omicron variant of concern, WHO now recommends that it is only given when the infection is caused by another variant.

Molnupiravir is not widely available but steps have been taken towards increasing access, including the signing of a voluntary licensing agreement. The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) is making a limited supply available to countries with access constraints.

WHO has also invited manufacturers to submit their products for prequalification, with a number of manufacturers of molnupiravir going through assessment now. WHO evaluates the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products for United Nations and other large suppliers to low- and middle-income countries. More WHO quality-assured manufacturers mean that countries have a greater choice of products and more competitive prices.  

Thanks: WHO

WHO and MPP welcome NIH’s offer of COVID-19 health technologies to C-TAP

Geneva, 3 March 2022 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) jointly welcome the announcement that the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) will offer several technologies to the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) for potential licensing through MPP. The announcement was made today at the U.S. COVID-19 Dialogue with Ministers of Health meeting in the presence of WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and NIAID Director and Chief Medical Advisor to the President of United States, Anthony Fauci.

“I thank NIH for its offer of innovative therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostic methods for COVID-19,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Voluntary sharing of technologies through non-exclusive agreements will not only help us put the pandemic behind us; it will also empower low- and middle-income countries to produce their own medical products and achieve equitable access.”

“NIH were the first to share their patents with MPP for an HIV product back in 2010 when we were created,” said Charles Gore, MPP Executive Director. “We will be honoured to sign public health-driven transparent non-exclusive licence agreements with NIH under the auspices of C-TAP when the negotiations have concluded, with the goal to provide access of these innovative technologies to people in need around the world and help put an end to the pandemic.”

Launched in 2020 by the WHO Director-General and the President of Costa Rica, and supported by 43 Member States, C-TAP aims to facilitate timely, equitable and affordable access to COVID-19 health products by boosting their production and supply through open, non-exclusive licensing agreements. MPP provides the licensing expertise to this initiative and holds the licences.

Thanks: WHO

#Omicron Variant of #Coronavirus is now spreading all over the world !

During the week 20-26 December, following a gradual increase since October, the global number of new COVID-19 cases increased by 11% as compared to the previous week; while the number of new deaths remained similar to the numbers reported during the previous week. This corresponds to just under 5 million new cases and over 44 000 new deaths. As of 26 December, over 278 million cases and just under 5.4 million deaths have been reported globally.

The highest numbers of new cases were reported from the United States of America (1 185 653 new cases; 34% increase), the United Kingdom (611 864 new cases; 20% increase), France (504 642 new cases; 41% increase); Italy (257 579 new cases; 62% increase) and Germany (197 845 new cases; 30% decrease).

In spite of the best medical facilities, in the Last 7 days, Europe got 28,42,375 new cases, with 23,900 deaths. Similarly, in the last 7 days, America got 14,76,724 new cases, with 12,782 deaths.

Just think of our own country, India, where we don't have sufficient medical facilities. A day before, our PM announced that we have arranged almost 5 Lakh Oxygen beds & 1.40 Lakh ICU beds, which look nowhere, in case we get the Community spread of #Omicron variant of #coronavirus which is much more infectious comparing the earlier variant during the 2nd wave.

Similarly, the National Capital with over 2 Crore official Population ( though much higher in reality), has only 1,382 Ventilators & in case, even 1% of the infections require it, we may end our journey at some mortuary, as its being said that Delhi may get up to 1 lakh cases a day, during its peak.

Therefore, we have no other option, but to wear a Mask, keep maintaining Social Distancing, Get Vaccinated, if not yet, and leave the rest to the God Almighty.

B S Vohra with inputs from WHO.

He is the Founder President of East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation & Convenor of RWA Bhagidari. Tags: #Omicron #OmicronVariant #Corona #Coronavirus #COVID19