Svar Life Science

March 19, 2020

New clinical program for patients with severe COVID-19

In a recent press release, Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc announce that they have initiated a clinical program evaluating Kevzara® (sarilumab) in patients suffering from severe COVID-19. This drug is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin 6 (IL-6) by blocking its receptor. Preliminary data suggests that IL-6 may play an important role in driving acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

March 19, 2020

New clinical program for patients with severe COVID-19

In a recent press release, Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc announce that they have initiated a clinical program evaluating Kevzara® (sarilumab) in patients suffering from severe COVID-19. This drug is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin 6 (IL-6) by blocking its receptor. Preliminary data suggests that IL-6 may play an important role in driving acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Initial results from a Chinese study, where COVID-19 patients were given another IL-6-inhibiting drug, tocilizumab, suggest that such drugs can be effective in rapidly reducing fevers and the need for supplemental oxygen. Based on these results, China has updated its treatment guidelines and approved the use of the IL-6 inhibitor to treat COVID-19 patients with severe or critical disease.

This is certainly welcome news in a time when most news tends to be negative, and brings hope to millions of people around the globe.

 

Read the press release [external link]