May 6, 2022
2 mins read

Health service rolls out arthritis drug Baricitinib to treat Covid

It will be the seventh COVID treatment approved in total for use on the NHS…reports Asian Lite News

The UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) said that from Thursday it is rolling out the use of arthritis drug Baricitinib after it has proven to save lives when given to the most seriously ill COVID patients in hospital.

A trial carried out through the NHS and University of Oxford found that 13 per cent fewer severely ill patients died of COVID-19 when treated with Baricitinib compared to existing treatment options. Typically used to treat arthritis to reduce pain and inflammation, the NHS said Baricitinib can now be given to hospitalised COVID patients in addition to current treatments.

The more effective COVID treatments within the NHS arsenal, the more options doctors have to help patients who become seriously ill with COVID, preventing hospital admissions and saving lives, said NHS Medical Director Professor Steve Powis.

This is the fourth drug that has been fast-tracked for use on the NHS thanks to the world-leading RECOVERY [Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy] trial and is just as important because it gives our hard-working clinicians another life-saving treatment option and strengthens our defence against COVID-19, he said.

Arthritis drugs work by reducing inflammation caused by COVID-19 by blocking signals to the immune system that are causing it to attack the body. Patients given Baricitinib will receive a daily dose for 10 days, or until they are discharged from hospital, whichever comes first.

According to the NHS, the drug bolsters the options at doctors disposal when looking to treat hospitalised patients in the most effective way and can be used to supplement other COVID treatments in patients aged two and over. It will be the seventh COVID treatment approved in total for use on the NHS.

The move is described as the latest in an armoury of COVID treatments that the NHS has at its disposal, which now includes three repurposed arthritis drugs with Baricitinib joining Tocilizumab and Sarilumab that have treated an estimated 32,000 of the most severely ill COVID patients in England’s hospital.

The NHS says it has led the rollout of COVID medicines, from the discovery of Dexamethasone as the world’s first effective treatment to the first vaccination outside of a clinical trial in December 2020.

As well as these arthritis drugs, the NHS says it will continue to use other monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments.

ALSO READ-MENA healthcare projects on track

Previous Story

With eye on Indo-Pacific, Britain agrees reciprocal defence pact with Japan

Next Story

Industrialist Lord Swraj Paul’s wife passes away

Latest from -Top News

Kenya’s Odinga Slams Adani Deal U-Turn

Before the cancellation of the deal, Odinga was among the leaders who defended the Adani Group….reports Asian Lite News Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday expressed disappointment over the cancellation

Hindus in Peril in Bangladesh

The rights group submitted new evidence to the ICC, accusing Muhammad Yunus’s interim government of top-level complicity….reports Asian Lite News The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) on Friday condemned a

India Takes Yoga to the World

Ahead of June 21, yoga events are being held worldwide, promoting health, harmony, and well-being for the 11th IDY…reports Asian Lite News Marking a global celebration of India’s cultural heritage, the Indian

War on Children Worsens, Says UN

The new high surpassed 2023, another record year, which itself represented a 21 per cent increase over the preceding year….reports Asian Lite News Violence against children in conflict zones soared to record

Munir-Trump Talks Last Over Two Hours

Reports suggest that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff also took part in the meeting…reports Asian Lite News Pakistan’s Army Chief
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Explore most popular destinations in the UK

As one of England’s largest cities, Manchester boasts a rich

Salisbury Hosts Spectacular Rule of Law Celebration

High Sheriff of Wiltshire Pradeep Bhardwaj  hosted the annual Rule