(01 May 2020) Tocilizumab- reduced mortality in severe COVID 19 patients

Effective treatment of severe COVID-19 patients with tocilizumab

https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2005615117

This is a retrospective study on tocilizumab, an IL6R inhibitor, in treatment of 21 patients with severe and critical COVID-19. Within 5 days after tocilizumab, 15 of the 20 patients (75.0%) had lowered their oxygen intake, and 1 patient needed no oxygen therapy. CT scans manifested that the lung lesion opacity absorbed in 19 patients (90.5%).  Clinical data showed that the symptoms, hypoxygenmia, and CT opacity changes were improved immediately after the treatment with tocilizumab in most of the patients, suggesting that tocilizumab could be an efficient therapeutic for the treatment of COVID-19.