EMA/CHMP backs approval for use of RoActemra in adults with severe COVID-19

The European Medicines Agency’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has recommended extending the indication of RoActemra/Actemra (tocilizumab) to include the treatment of adults with COVID-19 who are receiving systemic treatment with corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

The extnded indication was confirmed by the Euroean Commission the day after the recommendation.

The medicine, marketed by Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), is already approved in the European Union for treating the inflammatory conditions rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, giant cell arteritis and cytokine release syndrome (CRS).