A new formulation of carbetocin is set to save thousands of women’s lives by preventing post-partum haemorrhage, the World Health Organisation said last night.
WHO hailed the results of trials of heat-stable carbetocin.
The study showed it to be as safe and effective as oxytocin in preventing post-partum haemorrhage.
The heat stable formulation does not need refrigeration and can be stored at 30C and 75% humidity for three years without losing efficacy.
The findings of the randomised clinical trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It involved nearly 30,000 women in ten countries, including the UK, India and five Africa countries.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebeyesus said: “This is a truly encouraging new development that can revolutionise our ability to keep mothers and babies alive.”
Dr Metin Gülmezoglu, from WHO, said: “The development of a drug to prevent postpartum haemorrhage that continues to remain effective in hot and humid conditions is very good news for the millions of women who give birth in parts of the world without access to reliable refrigeration.”
NEJM 27 June 2018
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