Editorial

Italian elderly couple (one doctor) with respiratory distress in India given anti-HIV drugs to treat the virus

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“Let us all pray for their recovery”

Business Today Extracts: The elderly Italian couple who are currently undergoing treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19) at a hospital in Jaipur have been administered a combination of two drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir which are second line drugs used for controlling HIV infection, approved by DCGI under restricted use.

The decision to administer the combination drugs of lopinavir and ritonavir was taken as the Italian couple had developed severe respiratory problems.

The Italian man, is a doctor himself and is on oxygen support. He already had pre-existing respiratory issues and his condition deteriorated developing severe respiratory problems.

The combination drugs of lopinavir and ritonavir along with other drugs are used in clinical trials in China, as the coronavirus first emerged there and Thailand for treating coronavirus patients.

Except for the couple, other 14 Italian tourists are admitted at Medanta hospital at present while the Indian guide is being treated at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Brands in India

Emletra - Emcure (ARV) [Lopinavir 200 mg + Ritonavir 50 mg] Lopimune - Cipla Ritocom - Hetero HC (GenX) Ritomax-L - Alkem (Cytomed) [Lopinavir 133.3 mg + Ritonavir 33.3 mg] V-Letra - Ranbaxy (Super Speciality)

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA