Nagpur: The most difficult phase in the second wave of COVID-19 was when hospitals faced acute shortage of drugs like remdesivir, tocilizumab and most importantly – oxygen. If the third wave arrives, most of these issues have already been fixed.
Moreover, doctors and administration also now better understand which drug/medicine/injection is in high demand and when. Local manufacturers have built up the capacity to manufacture these injections on a large scale. Medicine distribution is now possible at administrative as well as private level. The most comforting fact is that many new drugs/drugs have been received drug controller general Government of India (DCGI) approval for emergency use.
“We have an antibody cocktail available for high-risk populations, for which we had to wait and observe in the initial two waves,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Ashwini Tayde.
Indicated for restricted use in emergency cases, the cocktail can treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients who are at risk of developing severe disease and do not require oxygen. In May 2021, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Antibody Cocktail in India.
Cipla is manufacturing it locally in the country. Cipla notes that the cocktail demonstrated the ability to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by up to 70% and the duration of symptoms by up to four days.
Intensive care specialist Dr Nirmal Jaiswal is also the principal investigator for the stem cell therapy trial, the final phase of which is likely to be launched in the third wave. “The therapy has shown great results in the initial stages of human trials. We are hopeful, it will be a game changer in the third wave,” Dr. Jaiswal said.
Pharmacists want fair distribution of new drugs. Zydus Cadila’s Virafin could play a key role in the third wave. The government should supply enough virafin across the country,” said pharmacist Kailas Tandale, who heads Maharashtra Registered Pharmacist Association (MRPA). “Apart from drugs, the government should approve more vaccines to accelerate vaccination and allow pharmacists to stock doses for sale in the open market,” he said.
Another important drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been commercially launched in India before the third wave on 28 June. 2-DG was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (inmas), a laboratory of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), in association with Dr Reddy’s. It is an oral medicine. It can be given to moderate to severe Covid patients admitted in the hospital. DRDO has claimed that this drug is effective against all types of virus.
“Ideally, 2-DG should be prescribed by doctors for a maximum period of 10 days for moderate to severe COVID patients,” reads the DRDO guideline on 2-DG.
A senior member of the district COVID task force told TOI that the most important drug for Covid-19 patients is oxygen. “Whether it is favipiravir or remdesivir or tocilizumab – none of the drugs has proven mortality in Covid-19. Even the new drugs have yet to prove whether they are life-saving. But, everyone knows the importance of oxygen,” said the doctor.
“The need and supply of oxygen is the biggest medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 and it has been well taken care of after the devastating second wave,” he said.
Moreover, doctors and administration also now better understand which drug/medicine/injection is in high demand and when. Local manufacturers have built up the capacity to manufacture these injections on a large scale. Medicine distribution is now possible at administrative as well as private level. The most comforting fact is that many new drugs/drugs have been received drug controller general Government of India (DCGI) approval for emergency use.
“We have an antibody cocktail available for high-risk populations, for which we had to wait and observe in the initial two waves,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Ashwini Tayde.
Indicated for restricted use in emergency cases, the cocktail can treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients who are at risk of developing severe disease and do not require oxygen. In May 2021, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Antibody Cocktail in India.
Cipla is manufacturing it locally in the country. Cipla notes that the cocktail demonstrated the ability to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by up to 70% and the duration of symptoms by up to four days.
Intensive care specialist Dr Nirmal Jaiswal is also the principal investigator for the stem cell therapy trial, the final phase of which is likely to be launched in the third wave. “The therapy has shown great results in the initial stages of human trials. We are hopeful, it will be a game changer in the third wave,” Dr. Jaiswal said.
Pharmacists want fair distribution of new drugs. Zydus Cadila’s Virafin could play a key role in the third wave. The government should supply enough virafin across the country,” said pharmacist Kailas Tandale, who heads Maharashtra Registered Pharmacist Association (MRPA). “Apart from drugs, the government should approve more vaccines to accelerate vaccination and allow pharmacists to stock doses for sale in the open market,” he said.
Another important drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) has been commercially launched in India before the third wave on 28 June. 2-DG was developed by the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (inmas), a laboratory of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), in association with Dr Reddy’s. It is an oral medicine. It can be given to moderate to severe Covid patients admitted in the hospital. DRDO has claimed that this drug is effective against all types of virus.
“Ideally, 2-DG should be prescribed by doctors for a maximum period of 10 days for moderate to severe COVID patients,” reads the DRDO guideline on 2-DG.
A senior member of the district COVID task force told TOI that the most important drug for Covid-19 patients is oxygen. “Whether it is favipiravir or remdesivir or tocilizumab – none of the drugs has proven mortality in Covid-19. Even the new drugs have yet to prove whether they are life-saving. But, everyone knows the importance of oxygen,” said the doctor.
“The need and supply of oxygen is the biggest medicine for the treatment of COVID-19 and it has been well taken care of after the devastating second wave,” he said.
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