Mumbai docs try Biocon and Roche's biologic drugs on critical Covid cases

Two repurposed drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are being tried on over 100 patients in Mumbai

Pharmaceutical giants Roche and Biocon have joined the race to roll out a drug to combat coronavirus. While Roche’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra (tocilizumab), marketed by Cipla, is being tried to prevent extreme inflammation in gravely ill Covid-19 patients, Biocon is learnt to have been repurposing its psoriasis drug Itolizumab to treat the deadly virus.

The two biologic drugs are being tested on critically ill patients in Mumbai's Nair Hospital and King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital. Reports suggest that two patients at Nair Hospital, who were administered with Roche's Tocilizumab, have shown decent recovery and could be taken off ventilators.