Patients admitted to intensive care units across UK with Covid-19 are set to receive new life-saving treatments which could reduce the time spent in hospital by up to 10 days.
The announcement by the UK Government comes after results from the government-funded REMAP-CAP clinical trial which showed particular treatment options (tocilizumab and sarilumab) reduced the relative risk of death among Covid-19 patients by 24% when administered to patients within 24 hours of entering intensive care.
Most of the data came from when the drugs were administered in addition to another drug, which had been discovered through government-backed research through the RECOVERY clinical trial and is already provided as standard of care to the NHS.
Updated guidance is expected to be distributed by the Government and the NHS to trusts shortly, encouraging them to use the new drug option in their treatment of Covid-19 patients who are admitted to intensive care units, effective immediately.
is at the very forefront of identifying and providing the most promising, innovative treatments for its patients.
“Today’s results are yet another landmark development in finding a way out of this pandemic and, when added to the armoury of vaccines and treatments already being rolled out, will play a significant role in defeating this virus.
“We have worked quickly to ensure this treatment is available to NHS patients without delay, meaning hundreds of lives will be saved.
“I am hugely proud of the significant role our NHS and its patients have played in this international trial, and grateful to the outstanding scientists and clinicians behind REMAP-CAP who have brought this treatment to our patients.”
