The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended two new drugs to treat COVID-19—baricitinib and sotrovimab. Baricitinib, an oral drug, is “strongly recommended” for people with severe or critical COVID-19, to be given with cortico steroids, the WHO announced. Baricitinib is part of a class of drugs called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which suppress the overstimulation of the immune system. The drug is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The WHO’s Guideline Development Group found “moderate certainty evidence that baricitinib improved survival and reduced the need for ventilation, with no observed increase in adverse effects.” Sotrovimab is “conditionally recommended” for people with mild or moderate COVID-19 but at “high risk” of hospitalization. This includes people who are “older, immunocompromised, having underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, and those unvaccinated,” stated the United Nations agency. Sotrovimab is administered as a single intravenous infusion over 30 minutes. It is a monoclonal antibody drug, and can …