Arthritis drug tocilizumab shows no clear benefit for moderate COVID-19
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.
Randomised controlled trial: Subjects are randomly assigned to a test group, which receives the treatment, or a control group, which commonly receives a placebo. In 'blind' trials, participants do not know which group they are in; in ‘double blind’ trials, the experimenters do not know either. Blinding trials helps removes bias.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
Randomised controlled trial: Subjects are randomly assigned to a test group, which receives the treatment, or a control group, which commonly receives a placebo. In 'blind' trials, participants do not know which group they are in; in ‘double blind’ trials, the experimenters do not know either. Blinding trials helps removes bias.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
The drug tocilizumab, which supresses the immune system and is used mainly for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, was not effective for preventing intubation or death in moderately-ill hospitalized patients with Covid-19, according to a placebo controlled trial. The authors say some benefit or harm cannot be ruled out, however, because there were large variations in efficacy.
Journal/conference: New England Journal of Medicine
Link to research (DOI): 10.1056/NEJMoa2028836
Organisation/s: Harvard Medical School, USA
Funder: No information currently available
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