Fortis Hospital administers the first ‘antibody cocktail’ to a 72-year-old Covid patient

National, 30th May 2021: Today, Fortis Hospital administered the ‘antibody cocktail’ therapy to a 72-year-old COVID positive patient at their hospital in Mohali. The patient is a diabetic with chronic kidney disease (which is being conservatively) and tested positive for COVID-19 two days ago. He was administered one dose of the cocktail intravenously. The patient is reportedly stable post infusion.

The ‘anti-body cocktail therapy’ is for those above the age of 65, who are isolating at home, have an SpO2 of 93, require no oxygen support but are at risk of developing a severe form of the infection on account of their co-morbidities such as obesity, diabetes, liver disease, heart ailments, chronic lung disease. It can also be administered to those suffering from an immunocompromising condition or those with weakened immunity on account of immune suppressive treatment.

Dr. Zafar Ahmed, Senior Consultant, Critical Care, Pulmonology and Chest and Sleep Medicine, Fortis Hospital Mohali said, “Like antibodies, which are proteins generated by the body to fight disease, monoclonal antibodies are ‘artificially created in the lab’. In this cocktail, Casirivimab and Imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that specifically block the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, thereby preventing the coronavirus attachment and entry into human cells. 600 grams of each are mixed forming the cocktail. This is another very important step that has been taken by the medical community to effectively combat the pandemic and help people recover faster.”

Yesterday, Fortis Healthcare announced that two doses of Roche India’s Antibody Cocktail (Casirivimab and Imdevimab) distributed by Cipla Ltd. is available for administration to patients with mild and moderate COVID-19 infection. Launched on May 24, 2021 in India by Roche India, the Antibody Cocktail has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO).