Tocilizumab, remdesivir no wonder drugs in reducing mortality: Expert

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

Amid a shortage of tocilizumab and remdesivir in Chandigarh, and patients’ attendants running from pillar to post to procure these drugs, a PGI doctor dealing with Covid patients requiring critical care has clarified that both these have not been proven to reduce mortality.

Prof GD Puri, Head, Intensive Care, PGI, said, “Remdesivir is an antiviral drug and it was the first drug to be approved by the FDA, USA, for the treatment of Covid-19. Various studies have found that remdesivir given to patients with moderate disease (Covid patients developing hypoxia at room air), reduces the duration of hospitalisation, only if started within the first eight days of symptom onset.”

He said, “It doesn’t have any effect in reducing mortality. It is not effective in patients requiring high oxygen support or ventilation. So, if it has to be rationally used, use it within the first seven or eight days in patients developing room air

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