Roche’s Actemra Didn’t Help Early COVID-19 Patients in Italian Study

A small study of early COVID-19 patients in Italy showed Roche’s Actemra (tocilizumab) provided no benefit, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) said.

The results of a 126-patient study across 24 centers in the country showed no improvement or no increased survival in COVID-19 patients. The Italian trial only enrolled about a third of the intended number and was stopped early when doubts were raised about the medicine’s effectiveness. — Suz Redfearn