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Don’t Write Actemra Off Yet: Roche Drug Found To Be Lifesaving In COVID-19

Shown To Cut Deaths By 8%

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

After failing in five earlier trials, Actemra shows significant life-saving benefits for patients with severe COVID-19.

ICU
Actemra produced an 8% improvement in COVID-19 patients' chance of survival compared to standard care.

Patients admitted to intensive care in the UK with severe COVID-19 will receive Roche’s Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) after an international trial found the drug cut the absolute risk of death by 8% compared to standard care and time spent in intensive care by 10 days.

The results from the international REMAP-CAP study are a surprise turnaround for the drug, an immunomodulator best known for its use in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, and in

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