October 22, 2020

Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): treatment

• A randomized, placebo-controlled trial (n=243) demonstrated that tocilizumab (TCZ) was not effective in preventing intubation or death among moderately ill and hospitalized COVID-19 patients. At 28 days, the primary outcome of intubation or death was observed in 17 patients (10.6%) in the TCZ group and 10 patients (12.5%) in the placebo group (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.38-1.81). Similar percentages of patients in the two groups received remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, or glucocorticoids. Fewer serious infections were observed in the TCZ group (8.1% vs 17.3%, p=0.03).

Stone et al. (Oct 21, 2020). Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients Hospitalized with Covid-19. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2028836