Arthritis Drug Tocilizumab Reduces Severe Covid Mortality: Study By Patrick GALEY
02/11/21 AT 10:00 AM
The arthritis drug tocilizumab reduces the risk of critically ill patients dying of Covid-19, according to results of a study on Thursday which experts welcomed as an exciting development.
The Britain-based RECOVERY research programme investigating Covid-19 treatments said their findings could have a significant effect on hospital survival rates during the pandemic.
The study included more than 2,000 patients who received the drug intravenously compared with nearly 3,000 who were given normal care alone, such as oxygen support and ventilation.
More than 80 percent of all the patients were also receiving steroid treatments such as dexamethasone, which had been shown in earlier trials to lower the risk of death.