A new life saving Covid treatment is being trialled by the NHS, exactly a year on from the discovery of Dexamethasone.
The intravenous (IV) infusion of antibodies help to neutralise the Covid 19 virus. This is different to other treatments that reducing the inflammatory reaction to it. The revolutionary Covid treatment is in the end stages of its trial, but results from the Recovery trial suggest it could save six lives out of every 100 patients.
The trial, which involved around 10,000 UK patients, saw significant reduction in three key factors. It will see the length of days spent in hospital shortened, they are less likely to need a ventilator and reduces the risk of death from Covid 19.
The treatment is to be used in conjunction with Dexamethasone, rather than as a separate treatment. Joint Chief Investigator Sir Martin Landray says the combination of the two antibodies “reduces chance of dying by a fifth”. Untreated, these patients would have a one in three chance of dying.
Covid treatment only given to those with no antibodies
The revolutionary Covid treatment is not available to all Covid sufferers. The treatment, which has a cost of £2,000 per treatment, is only available to patients who naturally fail to make any antibodies of their own.
Once administered, the monoclonal treatment stifles the virus by not allowing it to replicate. Medical News Today explains that Monoclonal antibodies are a “clone” of antibodies to target and attach to a specific antigen.
Previous trials used blood plasma from patients who have suffered from Covid 19. However, it is not as effective as a Covid treatment, despite antibodies in the blood. The new antibody treatment contains larger doses of two lab made antibodies. These antibodies will grab on to the virus.
Sir Peter Horby, a second chief inspector, calls the discovery “wonderful”. The treatment will help those even in advanced stages of Covid.
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