Roche’s arthritis drug tocilizumab cuts death among hospitalised COVID-19 patients
Roche, The Swiss multinational healthcare company produces arthritis drug named tocilizumab which cuts the risk of death among patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 ,
It also shortens the recovery time and reduces the need for mechanical ventilation.
Since March 2020 there has been a range of potential treatments for COVID-19, which could possibly clear up confusion about whether tocilizumab has any benefit for COVID-19 patients.
The professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford University, Peter Horby said:
“We now know that the benefits of tocilizumab extend to all COVID patients with low oxygen levels and significant inflammation.”
The drug Tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra, is an intravenous anti-inflammatory monoclonal which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
This drug was added to the trial in April 2020 for patients with COVID-19 with severe inflation and also Oxygen.
In a study were 2,022 COVID-19 patients were randomly allocated to receive the drug tocilizumab by intravenous infusion.
The results were compared with 2,094 patients, and it was mentioned by researchers that 82 per cent of all patients were taking a systemic steroid such as dexamethasone.
Tocilizumab has significantly helped in reducing the death rate with 596 (29 per cent) of the patients in the tocilizumab group dying within 28 days, compared with 694 (33 per cent)patients in the usual care group.
Landray, Oxford professor of medicine and epidemiology said:
“Used in combination, the impact is substantial, clearly show the benefits of tocilizumab and dexamethasone in tackling the worst consequences of COVID-19 – improving survival, shortening hospital stay, and reducing the need for mechanical ventilators.”
Bill Anderson, Roche’s drug division chief said that previous mixed results were likely due to differences in the type of patients studied.
