Baricitinib is an oral drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis .
“It is an immunomodulator and is indicated for patients with severe or critical COVID-19,” explained Dr. Janet Díaz, clinical management leader of the Organization, who explained that it is administered with corticosteroids.
It is an alternative to other arthritis drugs recommended by the WHO in July 2021.
WHO also conditionally recommends the use of a monoclonal antibody drug, sotrovimab , for the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 in patients at high risk of hospitalization, such as those who are elderly, immunocompromised, with underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity, and not vaccinated.
Sotrovimab is an alternative to a monoclonal antibody cocktail, casirivimab-imdevimab, recommended in September, which according to laboratory studies responds worse to omicron. Sotrovimab retains its effectiveness according to preliminary results.
The expert group developing the guidelines also reviewed two other drugs for severe and critical COVID-19: ruxolitinib and tofacitinib. Given its uncertain effects, the WHO advises against its use.
They are part of a guide developed by the World Health Organization with the methodological support of the MAGIC Evidence Ecosystem Foundation, to provide reliable guidance on the management of covid-19 and help doctors make better decisions with their patients.
The guidelines are useful in fast-moving areas of research like Covid-19 because they allow researchers to update previously vetted and peer-reviewed evidence summaries as new information becomes available.
To make its recommendations, the panel considered a combination of evidence that assessed relative benefits and harms, values and preferences, and feasibility issues.
The guidance adds to previous recommendations for the use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers and systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe or critical Covid-19; conditional recommendations for the use of casirivimab-imdevimab (another monoclonal antibody treatment) in selected patients; and against the use of convalescent plasma, ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 regardless of the severity of the disease.
