February 12,2021

Andrew Campbell 

According to a new Oxford research, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis appears effective to reduce the risk of death in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, especially when it was combined with the steroid dexamethasone. An intravenous drug Actemra, also known as Tocilizumab, manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche shows a promising result in shortening patients’ length of hospital stay and reduced the need for a ventilator.

Professor Martin Landray of medicine and epidemiology and Professor Peter Horby of emerging infectious diseases and global health at the University of Oxford carried out the research on Roche Holding AG’s arthritis drug Actemra. Their diagnosis show Actemra reduced the risk of death for hospitalized Covid-19 patients in the UK. In the Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial program conducted by researchers at Oxford University, volunteers of more than 4,000 severely ill COVID patients with evidence of inflammation and required oxygen participated in taking the Roche arthritis drug. The results indicate that one life would be saved for every 25 such patients treated with Actemra.

Actemra has been reported conflicting RECOVERY trial in reviewing multiple COVID treatments in some early 2020 studies. However, the recent study by RECOVERY trial has confirmed patients who took the drug were 14% less likely to die within 28 days than those who received standard therapies in the UK. The controversy of the Oxford trials remains undetermined, pending future observation for the outcome of the Roche arthritis drug.

Photo:Webshot.