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Geneva (AFP) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Friday that it had prequalified tocilizumab, used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, to treat patients with severe forms of Covid-19, in order to make this expensive drug more accessible.
Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody used in the composition of a drug from the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche prescribed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, has demonstrated its ability to reduce the risk of death and the length of hospitalization of certain patients suffering from severe forms of the disease. Covid-19.
The WHO, as well as the United States and the European Union, have already recommended its use to treat serious cases of Covid-19 in hospital settings.
However, this treatment is only available in limited quantities and is extremely expensive. A single dose would cost some $600 in poor countries, WHO noted, noting that this prequalification could make it more accessible.
The WHO said it had added three different versions of the monoclonal antibody to its list of prequalified drugs to fight Covid-19, to boost production of cheaper generic drugs.
The prequalification process is intended to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products supplied to developing countries, WHO told AFP.
Prequalification provides these countries with the assurance that they are purchasing quality pharmaceutical products.
Tocilizumab was previously approved primarily for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in some 120 countries.
But during the pandemic, it proved to be effective in combating the dreaded “cytokine storm”, an overreaction of the immune system and a major cause of death in patients with Covid-19.
The WHO said it is continuing discussions with Roche on a possible price reduction and improving access to the remedy for low- and middle-income countries.
But if the prequalification that was granted on Friday specifically concerns Roche products, “many generic drug companies already produce tocilizumab, some of which have applied for prequalification,” the WHO said.
© 2022 AFP