A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, tocilizumab, could reduce the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease and speed up recovery, results from a new scientific trial announced this week found.
According to researchers from the nationwide Recovery trial, the drug could save the lives of one in 25 coronavirus patients in hospitals and reduce the need for ventilators in intensive care. The trial had found last year that the steroid dexamethasone cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators and by a fifth for those on oxygen.
When used for patients on oxygen and given in combination with dexamethasone, tocilizumab reduced the absolute risk of mortality by four percentage points, the relative risk of death by 14 percent, and cut the time spent in hospital by five days.
“The results clearly show the benefits of tocilizumab and dexamethasone in tackling the worst consequences of Covid-19. Used in combination, the impact is substantial,” said Martin Landray, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Oxford, and joint chief investigator in the trial. “This is good news for patients and good news for the health services that care for them in the UK and around the world.”
Also Read: Why are Africa’s Coronavirus Successes Being Overlooked?
Over 4,000 patients were involved in the trial – 2,022 patients were randomly allocated to receive tocilizumab, while the rest received standard care. A majority – 82 percent – took a steroid such as dexamethasone as part of the standard care.
The trials show that 596 patients or 29 percent in the tocilizumab group died within 28 days, compared with 694, or 33 percent, in the standard care group. The chances of progressing to ventilation or death also reduced from 38 percent to 33 percent among those who were not on invasive ventilation when the trial began.
‘Welcome’ news as new Covid-19 strain spreads
Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford, and joint chief investigator for Recovery notes that previous trials of tocilizumab had shown mixed results, and it was unclear which patients might benefit from the treatment. The new results show that the double impact of dexamethasone plus tocilizumab is “impressive and very welcome,” he said.
Tocilizumab was already being used by the National Health Service to treat some coronavirus patients based on findings it cut the risk of death and time spent in hospital by up to 10 days. But with the latest findings, the drug would be made more widely available on the NHS to help treat Covid patients, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said.
Around half of the people admitted to hospitals with the virus are expected to benefit from the newly-found treatment, according to the scientists, which would help reduce further pressure on the health system and potentially save thousands of lives amid ongoing vaccination in the country.
Also Read: Covid-19 Second Wave: Nigeria’s Connections to the Biggest Surges
“We are working quickly and closely with colleagues across the health system and sector to ensure every NHS patient who needs this treatment should be able to access it,” Hancock said.
A speedy rollout of Covid-19 vaccines to all vulnerable people is seen as critical to reducing the pandemic’s death toll and relieving pressure on the NHS, which is in a race against a faster-spreading variant of the virus.
The coronavirus strain first recorded in southeast England is likely to “sweep the world” and become the most dominant global strain, the head of the UK’s genetic surveillance programme, Sharon Peacock said.
The warning from the director of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium came as concerns mount over emerging mutations of the virus. Since detected in September, the B.1.1.7 variant has spread across the country and to more than 80 countries.
More than 13 million people have now received the first dose in the UK and over 500,000 of those have received a second dose, according to figures cited by the BBC. The progress means Britain continues to be among the countries with the highest vaccination rates globally – second only to Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
