Arthritis drug tocilizumab effective in reducing COVID-19 deaths: UK study
The UK government on Thursday said that patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 will receive arthritis drug tocilizumab as a treatment. In the Recovery clinical trial, the drug was found to have reduced the relative risk of death by 14 percent and the time spent in hospital by five days, when used for patients on oxygen and in addition to the corticosteroid dexamethasone.
Treatment expected to reduce burden on National Health Service
The recovery clinical trial was funded by the government through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The roll-out of this treatment is expected to contribute significantly toward reducing pressures on National Health Service hospitals over the coming months.
Drug can also benefit patients outside of intensive care
Last month, the international clinical trial REMAP-CAP found that tocilizumab and sarilumab reduced the risk of patients' death when administered within 24 hours of entering intensive care. The latest findings by Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy, run by the University of Oxford, show that hospitalized patients outside of intensive care with oxygen deficiency and showing signs of worsening can also benefit from the drug.
Combination of effective therapeutics and vaccines can end pandemic
"These results mean many more patients will have access to a proven treatment, speedy recovery, and reduction in the risk of mortality. We need a combination of effective therapeutics and vaccines to end this pandemic," said Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England.
Government working to ensure drug is available across NHS settings
The UK government is working closely with the manufacturer Roche to ensure the drug is available across NHS healthcare settings. "Throughout the pandemic where the NHS lead, the world followed. From vaccinating the first patients outside of clinical trials to helping get dexamethasone into frontline care, and now to drive forward research with another breakthrough treatment," said Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director, NHS.
Another positive development in our fight against virus: Powis
"This is another positive development in our fight against the virus alongside the roll-out of the biggest and fastest vaccination program in our history, with over ten million people receiving protection so far. We can start to look at the future with hope," Powis said.
This is second effective treatment found by Recovery clinical trial
The latest data marks the second treatment that Recovery clinical trial has found to be effective against COVID-19. It follows its discovery of the world-first treatment of dexamethasone in June last year, which reduces the risk of death by 20 percent for patients on oxygen and 35 percent for ventilated patients. The updated guidance will be sent to NHS trusts and clinicians on Monday.
