BMC claims 'Trump treatment' successful in over 200 coronavirus patients

The monoclonal antibodies treatment has proved successful for over 200 Covid-19 patients at the civic body’s Seven Hills Hospital at Andheri

The antibody cocktail – that became popular after it was administered to the then United States President Donald Trump – has given good results in Mumbai during a pilot test conducted as part of Covid-19 combat strategies.

The administration of an antibody cocktail helps Covid-19 patients recover faster and reduces the mortality rate.

A mixture of the two drugs – Casirivimab and Indevimab, both manufactured by the pharma giant, Roche India – was administered to 212 patients above the age of 12 who were under treatment at the Seven Hills Hospital, which is run by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

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According to the BMC, after administering the combined drug, the number of patients in need of oxygen was only 0.5 per cent, while the mortality rate also reduced by 70 per cent. Patients were also able to recover in 5-6 days as compared to earlier 13-14 days of hospital treatment.

“The results were encouraging,” said Dr Balkrishna Adsul, Dean, Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai.

The patients were selected carefully, with their weight above 40 kgs, with mild-to-medium symptoms of Covid-19, at least one co-morbidity condition and they were administered the antibody cocktail for an hour through saline.

The antibody cocktail can be administered to patients having diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, heart diseases, asthma and other acute respiratory diseases, sickle cell, cerebral palsy – depending on the medical assessment of individual patients.

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During the study, 212 patients were administered the antibody cocktail and the conclusions were arrived at after successful treatment of 199 patients.

These 199 patients included 101 patients in the age group of 18 to 45 years, 45 patients in the age group of 45 to 59 years, and 53 patients in the age group of 60 years. Out of a total of 199, 74 were co-morbid patients.

“Given the current situation, although patients were recovering faster, they were kept in the hospital for a longer period of time to study the dosage of the drugs, as well as to monitor their condition,” said Dr Adsul.

Health experts said that the use of this cocktail has also reduced the use of Remdesivir and steroids for the treatment of Covid-19.