With the rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 patients, there is a global shortage of the drug Actemra, also known as tocilizumab.
The drug is said to be used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis and severe covid conditions.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the drug Actemra, or Tocilizumab, for emergency use in the treatment of hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
These monoclonal antibodies are said to be able to alleviate the inflammatory condition that causes patients to become infected.
There has been a serious shortage of the drug in the United States since last Monday, according to reports.
Genentech, the maker of Actemra, said it could not supply enough to meet the demand.
The company said last week that demand for the drug had risen by more than 400% within two weeks.
Last Thursday, Genentech informed customers that “they are working as soon as possible to accelerate demand and increase production capacity and supply whenever possible.”
Genetech expects that if the epidemic continues at current rates, no matter how much supply is increased, supplies will be intermittent or in short supply in the coming months.
Actemra drug which is not allowed to treat Covid-19 is said to be used only for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and patients with severe covid implications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended this drug in June as a treatment for severe COVID-19 patients.
On the 25th of this month, Sri Lankan Ministry of Health received a consignment of these drugs with clinical oxygen from India as a donation.
