COVID-19: Guidance on Tocilizumab

NIH on tocilizumab: The National Institutes of Health has slightly upgraded tocilizumab as a treatment for COVID-19 in its latest COVID-19 treatment guidelines. Previously, the group recommended against the use of tocilizumab and other anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies (e.g., sarilumab) outside of clinical trials. Now, citing conflicting evidence, the guideline panel says there are not enough data to recommend for or against the use of tocilizumab or sarilumab to treat COVID-19 in patients who have been admitted to the intensive care unit in the past 24 hours and require mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen. Some panel members, citing the REMAP-CAP trial, say that for patients who meet the above criteria and have rapid progression of respiratory failure, they would administer a dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg of body weight, up to 800 mg) plus dexamethasone. For patients who don't require ICU care, the panel continues to recommend against these drugs.

NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines update (Free)

The Lancet Public Health article on testing frequency (Free abstract)

NEJM Journal Watch COVID-19 page (Free)

NEJM COVID-19 page (Free)