Adding the arthritis drug tocilizumab to standard care for patients in hospital with severe or critical covid-19 is no better than standard care alone in improving clinical outcomes at 15 days, finds a new trial published by The BMJ today.
There was an increased number of deaths at 15 days in patients receiving tocilizumab, resulting in the trial being stopped early.
Today’s results contradict earlier observational studies suggesting a benefit of tocilizumab. However, observational effects are limited by a high risk that they may be due to other unknown (confounding) factors – and some studies have not yet been peer reviewed or published in a medical journal.
Continue reading “New trial finds arthritis drug no better than standard care for severe covid-19”