Explained: Cleared for India, what is the antibody cocktail Trump used?

Former US President Donald Trump had taken the drug when he contracted Covid-19 in October last year.

casirivimab, imdevimab, drugs used for treatment of covid-19, coronavirus treatment, drug-maker Roche, US President Donald Trump, india news, indian express

Switzerland-based drug-maker Roche, has got approval from India’s Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for use in emergency situations for treatment of Covid-19. (Reuters)

An investigational antibody cocktail, from Switzerland-based drug-maker Roche, has got approval from India’s Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) for use in emergency situations for treatment of Covid-19. Former US President Donald Trump had taken the drug when he contracted Covid-19 in October last year.

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What is the cocktail?

It is a cocktail of two antibodies, casirivimab and imdevimab, and is used for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in high-risk patients. Casirivimab and imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies — or laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. Casirivimab and imdevimab are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, designed to block the virus’s attachment and entry into human cells. “Due to the specific engineering of two neutralising antibodies, which bind to different parts of the virus spike, the cocktail remains efficacious against widest spread variants and reduces the risk of losing its neutralisation potency against new emerging variants,” Roche said in a statement.

Who is it for?

The cocktail is to be administered for the treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in adults and paediatric patients (12 or older) who are at high risk of developing severe disease. It is approved at a combined dose of 1200 mg (600 mg of each drug) administered by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous route. It has to be stored at 2°C to 8°C. High-risk includes patients over 60 and/or those who have various comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung or kidney disease, diabetes etc.

How effective is it?

Roche announced that a large phase 3 global trial in 4,567 high-risk non-hospitalised Covid-19 patients met its primary endpoint, showing that the cocktail significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death by 70% compared to placebo. Casirivimab and imdevimab also significantly shortened the duration of symptoms by four days, it said.

How much of it will be available?

“We are focused on working towards access and timely delivery of supplies,” V Simpson Emmanuel, Managing Director, Roche Pharma India said by email. The company will import product batches to India and will market and distributed these through a strategic partnership with Cipla Limited. “It is too early to provide information on the specific amount of product that will be shipped to India and it’s pricing. We are in discussion with our marketing partner Cipla to support access to casirivimab and imdevimab for eligible patients in India. All details are being worked out and Cipla will be able to share the launch plan shortly,” Emmanuel said. At a global level, Roche and its partner Regeneron are collaborating to jointly address increasing demand, he said.

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Where else is it used?

The drug currently has received Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) in the US, where Trump had taken the drug when he contracted the disease, and the European Union. Roche said the approval granted in India was based on the data that have been filed for the EUA in the US, and the scientific opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in the European Union.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. ``Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) "Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. ``At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure "For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. ``Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. X (Twitter): @runaanu ... Read More