Health Ministry's guide for Covid-19 treatment drops itolizumab drug

FAQs for clinical management prepared by AIIMS and MoHFW says evidence for Favipiravir is weak

Despite the launches of many favipiravir brands, a Health Ministry document on clinical management of Covid-19 patients in ICUs notes that the evidence in favour of the drug is 'weak'. Moreover, the document does not mention the use of itolizumab, a Biocon drug that was granted an emergency use authorisation from the regulator for Covid-19 patients in July.

Earlier, the National Task Force for Covid-19 in India had not included Biocon's drug in its clinical management protocols for treating Covid-19. The drug had received a nod from the Drug Controller General of India to treat cytokine release syndrome in moderate to