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Sanofi/Regeneron Refocus Kevzara COVID-19 Trial On Critical Patients, Showing Value Of A Proper Trial

 
• By Jessica Merrill

A Phase III trial testing Kevzara in hospitalized COVID-19 patients will continue only with the high dose in more advanced critical patients after the low-dose was unsuccessful.

Inscription COVID-19 on white background. World Health Organization WHO introduced new official name for Coronavirus disease named COVID-19
Kevzara COVID-19 trial is being modified • Source: Shutterstock

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s hope for positioning Kevzara (sarilumab) as a potential treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients was diminished based on the initial clinical trial results, showing the drug did not help less critically ill patients in the study. The Phase III trial will be amended to enroll only advanced "critical" patients treated with the higher 400 mg dose of Kevzara and to discontinue enrolling less advanced "severe" patients, the companies announced on 27 April.

Kevzara is an IL-6 inhibitor approved for rheumatoid arthritis. The companies hoped it could play a role in stopping the inflammatory response that causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in critically ill COVID-19 patients

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