Actemra drug joins fight against coronavirus

LAHORE: A drug identified as Actemra has shown positive results on Covid-19 patients.

This was informed by health experts in a meeting presided over by Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik.

The meeting was held to review the clinical trial of Actemra drug to be used on seriously-ill Covid-19 patients in the province, on the direction of the cabinet committee.

The officials revealed that the trials have been conducted at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and Research Centre, Mayo Hospital, and Services Hospital and the medicine showed positive results, which are further being evaluated.

They maintained that the drug could only be given to critically-ill patients with specific symptoms on the advice of doctors, whereas, ordinary coronavirus patients would not be allowed to use it.

The experts highlighted that recommendations on the use of drugs would be submitted to the cabinet committee and after final approval, it could be administered to critical patients with specific symptoms on the prescription of doctors.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2020.