BARDA, Genentech to run clinical trial of Actemra as potential COVID-19 treatment

Actemra, a drug more commonly used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, will undergo a Phase 3 clinical trial for its potential to help patients suffering from COVID-19, under an expanded partnership between Roche’s Genentech and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

The accelerated trial was made possible by $25 million provided by BARDA. Tests will determine if Actemra is capable of reducing the duration of severe illness and hospitalization in those infected with the novel coronavirus. While no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for COVID-19 currently exists, Actemra holds the possibility of decreasing the severe inflammatory response caused by the disease.

One of the major risks with COVID-19 is its potential to cause respiratory failure. Experts have pondered whether this could be mediated, at least in part, by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory molecules, such as interleukin-6. This is where Actemra comes in. The drug is an antibody that binds to the interleukin-6 receptor in normal cells and could improve patient outcomes through inflammatory reduction. The drug is also approved for the treatment of inflammatory conditions in more than 100 countries, including the United States.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes that if deemed effective and safe by the FDA, Actemra could be paired with more specific COVID-19 antivirals in the future for greater effect.