China approves use of Roche arthritis drug for some Covid-19 patients

BEIJING (Reuters): China will use a Roche Holding AG arthritis drug to treat some coronavirus patients in severe condition, health authorities said on Wednesday (March 4), as the country seeks to build up treatment regimens to help the infected recover.

Tocilizumab, sold by the Swiss pharma giant under the trade name Actemra, can be prescribed to coronavirus patients who show serious lung damage and an elevated level of a protein called Interleukin 6, which could indicate inflammation or immunological diseases, the National Health Commission said in the latest version of its treatment guidelines published online.