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U.S. health regulators have granted emergency use authorization to a drug to help severely ill COVID-19 patients.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra, which is manufactured by Roche, based in Basel, Switzerland.
The medication has anti-inflammatory properties that scientists believe can control the immune system's overreaction to the virus.
Previous studies have found that patients given doses of the drug cut their risk of dying in half in comparison with those who didn't receive the therapy.
Under the FDA's authorization, Actemra will be given to hospitalized patients who are already receiving steroid drugs, oxygen and other measures to fight COVID-19.
On Thursday, the FDA approved tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra (above), which is manufactured by Roche, to treat COVID-19 patients
