US FDA okays arthritis drug for treatment of COVID-19
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Actemra is a monoclonal antibody that reduces inflammation and is given by intravenous infusion that is FDA-approved for multiple inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Washington: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug Actemra (tocilizumab) -- used for arthritis -- for the treatment of hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Under the EUA, the drug can be administered only to hospitalised adults and pediatric patients (2 years of age and older), receiving systemic corticosteroids and requiring supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, Actemra is not authorised for use in outpatients with COVID-19, the FDA said in a statement.More Related News