Bengaluru: With the third wave of pandemic triggering fear and uncertainty that towering large above the new variant, which is rich and prosperous in the technology capital is very looking for expensive monoclonal antibody cocktails, although it is not effective against the omicron variant.
Drugs that require Rs 1.2 lakh costs for two doses, each for use in two different patients, has become the most sought after.
Some patients in house isolation have also accessed drugs, said experts, not the best thing to do.
Monoclonal antibody cocktails contain two drugs – Casarivimab and IMDEVIMAB.
This drug offers hope for comorbid patients who have mild infections but are vulnerable to the development of complications.
Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to combat disease.
Monoclonal antibodies are lab artificial proteins that mimic this response.
In the second wave, the cocktail is used for many patients, preventing the form of severe diseases between many and reducing living in hospitals.
According to Dr.
Ravindra Mehta, Head of Pulmonology at Apollo Special Hospital, monoclonal antibodies have been in demand among the middle class and the upper middle class.
“But in typical Omicron cases, there is no point.
About 90% of patients, including some of our own medical professionals, ask us for this.
However, we explained to them to wait for three days and see whether the symptoms subside,” said Dr.
Mehta.
The symptoms of omicrons have sore throats, flowing noses and fever that will settle in 3-4 days.
“Monoclonal antibodies are excessive for Omicron.
But it is a single drug that has maximum benefits for those infected with Delta variants.
This pandemic is very dynamic and what is needed yesterday, it might be excessive later.
But the public is not updated a lot and asks monoclonal antibodies from fear It’s good, “he said.
Of the 90% of patients who asked for it, 10% would get it.
“Even if we don’t give it, patients access it elsewhere and many have taken it,” said Dr.
Mehta.
In the UK and the US, the use of monoclonal antibodies for Omicron infection has been stopped, said Dr.
Vivek Anand Padegal, senior consultant, director of lung disease, Fortis Hospital.
“We use monoclonal antibodies for very selective patients, which are at high risk and on immunosupressant drugs.
We do not know whether the case is Omicron or Delta because the sequencing of the genome takes 10 days.
Target Gene Failure Test is also not yet available to find out who is Suffers Delta and not Omicron, “said Dr.
Padegal.
At MS Hospital, where there were 52 reception, only one person was given monoclonal antibodies.
“Most of our patients are cases referred by the government and there is not much demand for drugs in our hospital.
But it is likely to increase over the case.
However, we do not manage the drug, unless specifically indicated by a doctor.
It is recommended for patients immunocompromised, unvackinated and high risk, “said Dr.
Gurudev from the hospital.
The trend is also seen in Chennai, who has reported a high number of Covid cases.
Dr.
V Ramasubramanian, a specialist of infectious diseases, Apollo Hospital, Chennai, said in one case, the patient’s family bought monoclonal antibodies to be given.
“We have to oversee Covid cases, because the symptoms will decrease in 3-4 days if the infection is caused by the omicron variant.
This can be effective in the case of infection with a Delta variant and not omicron.
Clinical decisions must be submitted to the doctor and family should not make a decision Himself, “he said.
However, Dr.
Mehta said so far it became a safe and used drug when needed, but not for all.
Sotromivab against Omicrondoctors said the new drug Sotromivab, developed by VIR Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline, has been found effectively against Omicron and is being used in the UK and the US.
“The drug is said to be effective but not yet available in India,” said Dr.
Padegal.