‘Indiscriminate use of remdesivir, tocilizumab on Covid patients can cause more harm than good’

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have asked states to use drugs like remdesivir and tocilizumab, mentioned as investigational therapies, on Covid-19 patients strictly as per the laid down protocol as their “indiscriminate use or use in conditions for which they are not desirable may cause more harm than good”.

In a video conference with the states, the two bodies stressed that the treatment approach for Covid-19 is largely based on supportive care since there is no cure as yet, the health ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

They told the states that the drugs mentioned as ‘investigational therapies’ should be used with caution due to their potential for serious adverse effects including liver and kidney injury, the health ministry said.

During the conference on ‘COVID Case Management by State/UT Centres of Excellence’, states were also told that the available evidence for remdesivir suggests that it may decrease the time for clinical improvement when used in moderate to severe cases. However, there have been no benefits in terms of reduced mortality, the ministry said.

“It (remdesivir) has to be used with extreme caution due to its potential for serious adverse effects including liver and kidney injury. Similarly, for tocilizumab studies have not shown any benefits in mortality reduction, the statement said.

“However, if used for patients with severe conditions, proper informed consent is required. Rampant use is to be discouraged since the effect of the drug is directed at the ‘cytokine storm’, it said. A cytokine storm is a severe immune reaction.

The ministry said all ‘investigational therapies’ are required to be carried out only in proper health care facilities where close monitoring of patients is possible so that potential complications can be managed.

The ICMR strongly recommended that the focus of clinical management should continue to remain on oxygen therapy, steroids which are widely available and inexpensive, appropriate and timely administration of anti-coagulants and high quality supportive care, including mental health counselling for patients and families, management of pre-existing illness and palliation of symptoms, the ministry said.

It said the pursuit of an effective treatment for COVID-19 has resulted in repurposing of several drugs which are not part of the main Clinical Management Protocol but have been indicated as investigational therapies.

“These drugs have still not been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and are only permitted for restricted Emergency Use for Covid-19,” it stated.

These can be used in specific sub-groups of patients on the basis of informed and shared decision making with the patient before prescribing these drugs, the statement said.

“The States as well as the Medical College hospitals designated as Centres of Excellence were reminded by ICMR and AIIMS that their indiscriminate use or use in conditions for which they are not desirable, may cause more harm than good,” it further said.

Based on severity of symptoms, Covid-19 can be categorised into three groups €” mild, moderate and severe.

During the video conference with states, ICMR and AIIMS emphasised that in the absence of a cure, the standard of care treatment for mild, moderate and severe cases as described in the Clinical Management Protocol of the health ministry would be most effective.

For moderate and severe cases, adequate oxygen support, appropriate and timely administration of anti-coagulants and widely available and inexpensive corticosteroids, in accordance with the protocol, can be considered to be the mainstay of Covid-19 therapy, the ministry stated.

For mild cases, which are nearly 80 per cent of the total cases, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been recommended. The standard of care treatment strategies have shown to yield positive results, it added.