WHO advises against using remdesivir on Covid-19 patients

WHO advisory agrees with ICMR conclusions: no benefits from four repurposed drugs

Jamshedpur: World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised against using remdesivir in patients admitted in hospitals with coronavirus infection. WHO has said that there is no evidence that remdesivir improves survival and other outcomes in admitted patients in any way.

The recommendation issued on Friday, November 20, came as a part of the guideline for clinical care for Covid-19. The guideline was prepared by an international guideline development group. 28 clinical care experts were part of this group.

After the WHO Solidarity Trial published its interim results, work had started on developing the guidelines to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel reviewed data that included results from different trials involving 7000 patients.

As per the results of the trials, there were no significant improvement in mortality, requirement for mechanical ventilation, time in clinical progress and other outcomes for the patients due to this medicine.

The guideline development group recognised that more research is needed. The group recommended continued enrolment in trials evaluating remdesivir.

According to WHO updates issued on November 20, 2020: “A conditional recommendation is issued when the evidence around the benefits and risks of an intervention are less certain.”

WHO has clarified: “In this case, there is a conditional recommendation against the use of remdesivir. This means that there isn’t enough evidence to support its use.”

ICMR too was an active partner in Solidarity Therapeutics Trial conducted under the aegis of WHO.

Earlier, on October 16, 2020 to be exact, ICMR had said in a press release that the Solidarity Trial tested four repurposed drugs: Remdesivir, Interferon Beta1a, Lopinariivr/Ritnavir and Hydroxychloroquine.

ICMR had further added: “Interim analysis showed no benefits of Remdesivir in any groups of Covid-19 (asymptomatic / mild / moderate / severe / critical patients.