Recently, pharma company Roche and Cipla launched the first Antibody Cocktail in India. It is to be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid 19 patients who are at high risk.
India has begun administering these antibody cocktails to Covid 19 patients and an 84-year-old man, Mohabbat Singh from Haryana is the first Covid19 patient to receive the antibody cocktail.
The antibody cocktail is in the limelight after it was used to treat former US President Donald Trump last year. The antibody cocktail has claims to reduce the risk of hospitalization and fatality by 70 percent. It can be used in the treatment of adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older, weighing at least 40kg) as well. The antibody cocktail is priced at Rs 59,750 per dose.
What is an Antibody Cocktail
Roche’s antibody cocktail is literally a cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies. It comprises two drugs Cairivimab and Imdevimab. These are human immunoglobulin G-1 monoclonal antibodies, which are proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens.
They block the virus attachment to cells and entry to human cells.
Who should take the therapy
It should be administered to patients with mild to moderate symptoms in adults. It is also proven effective in patients who are at high risk of developing severe Covid19 infection.
Also Read: Covid19: Roche-Cipla antibody cocktail launched in India at Rs 59,750 per dose
It is most suited for high-risk patients and must be administered within 48 to 72 hours of patient testing covid positive. In children, it is recommended to treat patients aged 12 years or above and weighing at least 40 kg.
Patients who need an oxygen supply should not take the antibody cocktail.
How to get Antibody Cocktail
Only healthcare institutions, both private and government can procure the antibody cocktail. In order to procure it, they can place an inquiry by reaching out to the nearest Cipla distributor.
Price of Antibody Cocktail
The dose for a single patient i.e. 1200mg will include 600mg of Casirivimab and 600mg of Imdevimab. It will cost Rs 59,750 inclusive of all taxes and the maximum retail price for the multi-dose pack is Rs 1,19,500 inclusive of all taxes.