Roche’s Actemra shortage is another argument to suspend patents on Covid-19 drugs

For nearly a year, India, South Africa, and other low- and middle-income countries have been asking the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a suspension of patents on Covid-19 drugs and technologies until the end of the pandemic.

Arthritis Drug Did Not Help Seriously Ill Covid Patients, Early Data Shows

The drug, sarilumab, sold as Kevzara, didn’t show benefits to patients who were hospitalized but not on ventilators. The study will continue with critically ill patients.

Arthritis drug that helps Covid ICU patients has wider benefits, trial finds

A rheumatoid arthritis drug previously found to save lives among intensive care patients with Covid could also help those receiving oxygen on general wards and reduce pressure on the NHS, researchers have found.

As Delta Variant Spreads, a Covid-19 Treatment Is in Short Supply

Tocilizumab is used in conjunction with steroids to dampen a haywire immune response that occurs in some severely ill Covid-19 patients. The drug, which was originally developed to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, received emergency-use authorization from the FDA in June.

Interleukin-6 Receptor Antagonists in Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19 – Preliminary report

In critically ill patients with Covid-19 receiving organ support in intensive care, treatment with the IL-6 receptor antagonists, tocilizumab and sarilumab, improved outcome, including survival.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug Shows Promise in Fighting Covid-19

A new study shows an anti-inflammatory drug can help treat certain severe symptoms of Covid-19, and adds a tool for helping the sickest patients.

Tocilizumab cuts death rate in severe COVID-19, study finds

Led by University of Oxford researchers, the ongoing Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial involved assigning 4,116 severely ill coronavirus patients to receive either intravenous tocilizumab, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, or usual care. Most (82%) of the participants also received a systemic corticosteroid such as dexamethasone.

Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19 Pneumonia

In hospitalized patients with Covid-19 pneumonia who were not receiving mechanical ventilation, tocilizumab reduced the likelihood of progression to the composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or death, but it did not improve survival.

Tocilizumab reduces deaths in patients hospitalised with COVID-19

The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial has demonstrated that an anti-inflammatory treatment, tocilizumab, reduces the risk of death when given to hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19. The study also showed that tocilizumab shortens the time until patients are successfully discharged from hospital and reduces the need for a mechanical ventilator.