Eli Lilly and Co.’s rheumatoid arthritis drug and GlaxoSmithKline Plc’s monoclonal antibody have won the support of experts at the World Health Organization to treat Covid19 as new infections surge around the world.
There is evidence that Lilly’s baricitinib may improve survival rates and reduce the need for ventilation in critically ill patients, the WHO said in a statement, recommending a combination with corticosteroids.
Two other drugs in the same class, known as JAK inhibitors, should not be used for Covid, the agency said.
The WHO guidance update confirms the conclusions reached by some health authorities months ago. The advice on baricitinib, for example, comes after US and European Union authorities approved the drug for emergency use last May.
Some scientists criticized the Geneva-based agency for failing to timely review antiviral pills developed by Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co.
“The main problem with this version of the guideline is its silence on the potential community use of oral antiviral drugs, which are now approved for use in several countries,” said Penny Ward, Visiting Professor of Pharmaceutical Medicine at King’s College London the U.K. Science Media Center WHO also endorsed the monoclonal antibody from Glaxo and Vir Biotechnology Inc.
For patients who are not very ill but likely to be hospitalized while recognizing the effectiveness of antibodies against the Omicron Variant “is still uncertain.
“The United States and the United Kingdom approved GlaxoVir treatment last year. Another monoclonal antibody was developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.