Sanofi and Regeneron’s Kevzara Shows No Benefit for Critical COVID-19 Patients

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have stopped a phase 3 clinical trial in the U.S. of their rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara (sarilumab) as a COVID-19 treatment after it failed to meet its primary endpoints.

Eighty percent of 194 critically ill COVID patients on mechanical ventilation who were given Kevzara experienced adverse events, and serious adverse events were more frequent in those taking Kevzara — the most common being multiorgan dysfunction syndrome and very low blood pressure.

The drugmakers had modified the Kevzara trial in April after preliminary results found no benefit for severe COVID-19 patients (DID, April 28). But the latest results halt trial activity in the U.S. for this drug.  

Sanofi said it still plans to continue a separate study of the drug outside of the U.S. using a different dosing regimen for severe and critical COVID-19 patients. Results from that trial are expected in the third quarter of this year. — Jordan Williams