Seventy-seven out of 100 COVID-19 patients who were prescribed the rheumatoid arthritis treatment drug " Actemra" by JW Pharmaceutical have seen their symptoms improve.
Researchers at Brescia Municipal Hospital in Italy said on April 22 that 77 out of 100 COVID-19 patients who were treated with "Actemra" saw their respiratory conditions improve after 10 days of treatment.
The research team administered "Actemra" for 43 patients at care units for critical patients and 57 patients at intensive care units.
Of the 43 people who received intensive care, 32 (74 percent) had improved symptoms, removing oxygen respirators and being transferred to general wards. Of the 57 people, 37 (65 percent) stopped the use of non-invasive artificial respiration, while seven (12 percent) are known to remain stable in intensive care units.
During the 10-day period, 77 patients (77%) had improved or stabilized breathing conditions, 61 of whom had significantly reduced lung damage in chest radiation tests. Fifteen others were discharged from the hospital.
"The study supports the hypothesis that COVID-19 leads to cytokine, which is caused by severe pneumonia caused by acute respiratory diseases and excessive immune responses," a research official said. "It supports the hypothesis that the response to Actemra is clinically significant."
The results will be published in the journal Autoimmunity Reviews in July. Italy's drug screening agency AIFA has launched a study on "Actemra" for 330 COVID-19 patients.
Meanwhile, "Actemra" was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month for a clinical three-phase test plan for severe COVID-19. The company is conducting global research on about 330 patients worldwide and has also entered phase 3 clinical trials in Japan.
