Study shows anti-inflammatory drug reduces risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

An anti-inflammatory drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis reduces the risk of death in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19, especially when combined with the steroid dexamethasone, according to results of a study released Thursday.

Tocilizumab, an intravenous drug manufactured by Roche, was also shown to reduce the need for a mechanical ventilator and shorten the length of hospitalization.

The preliminary results came from the Recovery trial at the University of Oxford, which has been studying various potential treatments for COVID-19 since March. 

Tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra, was added to the trial in April for patients with COVID-19 who required oxygen and had evidence of inflammation.  

“Previous trials of tocilizumab had shown mixed results, and it was unclear which patients might benefit from the treatment,” Peter Horby, a professor at the University of Oxford and joint chief investigator for the Recovery trial, said in a statement. 

“We now know that the benefits of tocilizumab extend to all COVID patients with low oxygen levels and significant inflammation. The double impact of dexamethasone plus tocilizumab is impressive and very welcome,” Horby said.

The trial tested 2,022 patients who were randomly allocated tocilizumab, and compared the results to 2,094 who received standard care. According to researchers, 82 percent of the test subjects were also taking a steroid such as dexamethasone, which has also been found to reduce hospitalization in people with severe COVID-19.

The study found 29 percent of the patients in the tocilizumab group died within 28 days, compared with 33 percent of patients in the usual care group. According to the researchers, the difference means that for every 25 patients treated with tocilizumab, one additional life would be saved. 

However, the drug also increased the probability of being discharged alive within 28 days from 47 percent to 54 percent. 

While there was no evidence the drug had any effect on the chances of successfully ending ventilation, the treatment significantly reduced the chances of progressing to a ventilator or death, from 38 percent to 33 percent.

The preliminary results will be submitted to a peer-reviewed medical journal shortly. 

In the U.S., there are very few drugs authorized to treat COVID-19. Experts say the world will need more than just vaccines to completely end the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved remdesivir as a treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients at least 12 years old, because it has been shown to reduce hospitalization.  

The FDA has also authorized the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments from Eli Lilly and Regeneron.