Two life saving drugs discovered for Covid-19

Sariluamb investigated for treatment of covid-19 patients — Sarilumab investigated for the treatment of covid-19 patients

Researchers discovered two life-saving drugs, having carried out a trial in NHS intensive care units says the anti-inflammatory medication given via a drip can save an extra life for every 12 treated.

There are over 30, 000 Covid patients in UK hospitals – 39 per cent more than in April 2020. The UK government is working closely with the manufacturer, to ensure the drugs, Tocilizumab and Sarilumab which costs about £1,000 per patient, continue to be available to UK patients.

As well as saving more lives, the treatments also speed up patients’ recovery and reduce the length of time- critically-ill patients need to spend in the intensive care unit by about a week. The researchers also found a cheap steroid drug Dexamethasone which cost about £5 a course.

Lead researcher Prof Anthony Gordon, from Imperial College London, said “For every 12 patients you treat with these drugs you would expect to save a life, It’s a big effect.”

The REMAP-CAP trial carried out in six different countries, including the UK, with around 800 intensive care patients. Nearly 36 per cent of intensive care Covid patients receiving standard care died. The new drugs reduced that by a quarter, to 27 per cent when given to patients within 24 hours of entering intensive care. The drugs dampen down inflammation, which can go into overdrive in Covid patients and cause damage to the lungs and other organs.

Tocilizumab and Sarilumab have already been added to the government’s export restriction list, which bans companies from buying medicines meant for UK patients and selling them for a higher price in another country.

Tocilizumab was approved for use in patients with RA in 2009, while Srilumab was approved in 2017. Both drugs target the IL6 cells that makeup part of the immune system’s response in the body.

Prof Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director said, “The fact there is now another drug that can help to reduce mortality for patients with Covid-198 is hugely welcome news and another positive development in the continued fight against the virus.”