Roche drug in Covid trial

Queensland researchers are gearing up to trial Roche's immunoregulatory drug Actemra in critically ill patients with COVID-19, based on the hope that the drug can interrupt a process that contributes to severe respiratory failure.

While there are a number of randomised controlled trials around the world evaluating the drug, lead researcher Bridget Barber from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute says the Brisbane trial is important.

Actemra, is an IL6-inhibitor, blocking the inflammatory response thought to contribute to severe respiratory failure that can occur in the second week of the COVID-19 illness.