Antibody cocktail now available in Ranchi hosp

Ranchi: Considered a game changer in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, the antibody cocktail is now available at the Raj Hospital and Research Centre in Ranchi. The cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies — casirivimab and imdevimab — can be used on mild and moderate Covid patients and is known to reduce the chances of hospitalization by 70%. The proprietor of Raj Hospital, Jogesh Gambhir, said the medical fraternity was eagerly waiting for this ‘wonder drug’ to arrive in India after the Centre granted emergency-use authorisation.
“It arrived in Delhi on May 26 and we are the first in Jharkhand to obtain the consignment.Although the single-dose drug is costly and priced at around Rs 60,000, we are hopeful that people in the high-risk groups can be prevented from slipping into emergency condition by the use of this drug,” Gambhir said.
Asked if the antibody cocktail can be used on children as a possible third wave is predicted to infect kids more, Gambhir said that the drug manufacturer, Roche has recommended its use on patients over 12 years of age and 40kg body weight.