The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends stopping the use of two anti-Covid treatments with synthetic antibodies, pointing out their ineffectiveness against the variants currently in circulation.
WHO experts “strongly recommend” not using Xevudy and Ronapreve, in the latest version of their anti-Covid treatment guide, published overnight from Thursday to Friday in the British Medical Journal.
Remdesivir for some severe cases
Until then, the WHO cautiously recommended its use in patients with a mild form of the disease, but at risk of progression to a more severe form, due to age, weight or other factors.
However, the arrival of the Omicron variant at the end of 2021 called into question the interest of these treatments and WHO experts, based on several in vitro studies, now believe that they are probably ineffective against circulating strains.
At the same time, experts have updated recommendations on other treatments, in particular Gilead’s remdesivir. This treatment, which was previously only recommended by the WHO in the case of a mild form of Covid, can, in the light of new studies, be considered in certain severe cases, according to experts.
However, in the most severe cases, called “critical,” studies do not show a benefit from remdesivir. Therefore, experts advise against its use in these cases.
Even where it can be used, this treatment is of only “modest” interest with a degree of certainty that is only “moderate,” however, experts caution.
Source: BFM TV
