BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Videos
      • BOOM Explains
      • Explained: Is Itolizumab Effective...
      BOOM Explains

      Explained: Is Itolizumab Effective In Preventing COVID-19 Deaths?

      Itolizumab has received a nod from the DCGI for emergency, restricted use among moderate to severe Covid-19 patients.

      By - Govindraj Ethiraj |
      Published -  14 July 2020 1:43 PM IST
    • Boomlive

      Biocon's Itolizumab, which was developed in collaboration with Centre for Molecular Immunology (CIM) in Cuba has received a nod from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for emergency, restricted use among moderate to moderate-severe COVID-19 patients.

      The approval of Itolizumab happened on a successful conclusion of a randomized, controlled clinical trial at multiple hospitals in Mumbai and New Delhi. The study focussed on the safety and efficacy of Itolizumab in preventing CRS in moderate to severe ARDS patients due to COVID-19.

      Itolizumab, branded as Alzumab, was developed by the Kiran Mazumdar Shaw led Biocon in 2013 where it went through a 52-week phase-III multi-centre trial and was intended for the use of psoriasis. It is a 'humanised monoclonal antibody' of the IgG1 class, which targets the CD-6 cytokine receptor.

      The MRP of the injection is Rs 7,950 per vial, and according to Biocon, each patient needs 4 vials, making the total cost to be Rs 32,000. Dr Hemant Thacker, Consultant & Senior Physician, Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai discussed the efficiency of the drug in a discussion with BOOM.

      Dr Thacker was one of the first physicians in Mumbai to use the drug. He says, "I recruited the first patient on compassionate grounds on 12 May. It was the patient's 6th day of needing more and more oxygen. There was a possibility of him going into a cytokine storm sooner or later. We used about 4 to 5 ampules or 100-125 milligrams. We usually give it once but it can be repeated in a week."

      Drug Effectiveness

      Dr Thacker then points out that the efficiency of the drug worked as well as Tocilizumab, another COVID-19 life saving drug which is used to inhibit cytokine storms and is not very easily available in the market, and is extremely expensive.

      He says about the efficiency of the drug, "This drug blocked the action of the inflammatory cytokines, which were triggered by the irritation of the virus in the body. We've tried it on 25 patients so far."

      Dr Thacker also has a word of caution, "Remember this is for moderate, moderate-severe, and severe COVID-19 patients that form less than 4-5% of the patient population. This is not a cure to COVID-19, but it is a way to reduce mortality rates."

      He added, "We are hoping that this is one modality we can use in the cornerstones of our treatment against COVID-19."

      Side Effects

      Though Dr Thacker thinks there are no side-effects of the drug if it is given over a period of 6 or 7 hours, slowly, but he says overuse might be a potential problem. "If you give this drug very rapidly into three hours, you can get a problem with the patient getting an allergic reaction with shivering chills. We generally give it over 7 hours slowly then nothing happens."

      "Till now, we have had no kidney shutdown, no other side effects in the long term. But then again, we've only had a two month follow-up the time. We'll know the long term effects after a period of 6 months," he added.

      Dr Thacker says he has a word of advice. "The pandemic is far from over. It's advisable to exercise the same precautions of social distancing and wearing a mask till then."

      Highlights

      -Itolizumab is not a cure for COVID-19 but a way to reduce mortality rates.
      -It can be administered over a period of 6 to 7 hours slowly, and no adverse effects have been seen since it has been administered in the last two months.
      -Long term effects of the drug will be known after 6 months.

      Catch the interview on YouTube or click on the link here.

      Tags

      tocilizumabitolizumabbioconCOVID-19drug trialsExplained
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!