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First COVID-19 Trial Success For Roche’s Actemra, But No Sign It Saves Lives

Trial Focused On Hispanic, Black And Native Americans

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

A composite endpoint conceals Actemra’s lack of mortality benefit – while life-saving dexamethasone gets EMA endorsement.

Roche_Basel
Roche is also investigating Actemra in combination with Gilead's Veklury

Roche Holding AG’s Actemra (tocilizumab) has hit its primary endpoint in a pivotal trial of patients with severe COVID-19 associated pneumonia - but the results are however far from clear-cut.

The EMPACTA (Evaluating Minority Patients with Actemra) trial found the IL-6 inhibitor more effective than placebo in reducing the risk of these patients progressing to

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