*PRESS RELEASE*
*WHO recommends life-saving interleukin-6 receptor blockers for COVID-19
and urges producers to join efforts to rapidly increase access*
6 July 2021, Geneva | The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its
patient care guidelines
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-l-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-r/> to
include interleukin-6 receptor blockers, a class of medicines that are
lifesaving in patients who are severely or critically ill with COVID-19,
especially when administered alongside corticosteroids.
These were the findings from a prospective and a living network
meta-analysis initiated by WHO, the largest such analysis on the drugs to
date. Data from over 10 000 patients enrolled in 27 clinical trials were
considered.
These are the first drugs found to be effective against COVID-19 since
corticosteroids were recommended by WHO
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-l-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-y/> in
September 2020.
Patients severely or critically ill with COVID-19 often suffer from an
overreaction of the immune system, which can be very harmful to the
patient?s health. Interleukin-6 blocking drugs ? tocilizumab and sarilumab
? act to suppress this overreaction.
The prospective and living network meta-analyses showed that in severely or
critically ill patients, administering these drugs reduce the odds of death
by 13%, compared to standard care. This means that there will be 15 fewer
deaths per thousand patients, and as many as 28 fewer deaths for every
thousand critically ill patients. The odds of mechanical ventilation among
severe and critical patients are reduced by 28%, compared with standard
care. This translates to 23 fewer patients out of a thousand needing
mechanical ventilation.
Clinical trial investigators in 28 countries shared data with WHO,
including pre-publication data. Researchers worldwide compiled and analyzed
the data. With the support of these critical partnerships, WHO has been
able to issue a rapid and trustworthy recommendation for the use of
interleukin-6 receptor blockers in severe and critical COVID-19 patients.
?These drugs offer hope for patients and families who are suffering from
the devastating impact of severe and critical COVID-19. But IL-6 receptor
blockers remain inaccessible and unaffordable for the majority of the
world,? said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
?The inequitable distribution of vaccines means that people in low- and
middle-income countries are most susceptible to severe forms of COVID-19.
So, the greatest need for these drugs is in countries that currently have
the least access. We must urgently change this.?
To increase access and affordability of these life-saving products, WHO
calls on manufacturers to reduce prices and make supplies available to low-
and middle-income countries, especially where COVID-19 is surging.
WHO also encourages companies to agree to transparent, non-exclusive
voluntary licensing agreements using the C-TAP platform and the Medicines
Patent Pool, or to waive exclusivity rights.
In addition, WHO has launched an expression of interest
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-l-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-j/> for
prequalification of manufacturers of interleukin-6 receptor blockers.
Prequalification of innovator and biosimilar products aims to expand the
availability of quality-assured products and to increase access through
market competition and reduce prices to meet urgent public health needs.
*Media contacts:*
mediainquiries@who.int
*You are receiving this NO-REPLY email because you are included on a WHO
mail list. *
If you have been forwarded this update you can click here to subscribe
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-l-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-t/>\.
Journalists may send feedback to WHO Media Team <mediainquiries@who.int>
* Share *
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-fb-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-d/>
* Tweet *
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-tw-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-h/>
* Share *
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-li-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-p/>
* Forward *
<https://worldhealthorganization.forwardtomyfriend.com/d-jyyhckyty-1A86839D-qkikjkl-l-x>
World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1202 Geneva 27, Switzerland
Unsubscribe
<https://worldhealthorganization.cmail20.com/t/d-u-qkikjkl-jyyhckyty-m/>