Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug (tocilizumab) for the treatment of hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older) who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Tocilizumab is not authorized for use in outpatients with COVID-19.

In clinical trials of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, Tocilizumab in addition to the routine care patients receive for treatment of COVID-19, which included corticosteroid therapy, was shown to reduce the risk of death through 28 days of follow-up and decrease the amount of time patients remained hospitalized. The risk of patients being placed on ventilators or death through 28 days of follow-up was also decreased.

Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that reduces inflammation by blocking the interleukin-6 receptor. In the case of COVID-19 infection, the immune system can become hyperactive, which may result in worsening of disease. Tocilizumab does not directly target SARS-COV-2. Tocilizumab is a prescription medication given by intravenous infusion that is FDA-approved for multiple inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Under today’s EUA, the FDA is authorizing the emergency use of Tocilizumab for the treatment of certain hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Tocilizumab is not approved as a treatment for COVID-19.