BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Genentech finds right endpoint to show IL-6 benefit in COVID-19

Preventing mechanical ventilation may be the primary benefit of IL-6 inhibition 

September 18, 2020 11:20 PM UTC

Genentech and Roche may have finally found an endpoint that can tease out the benefit of IL-6 inhibitors in treating COVID-19 patients.

The Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) said Friday that the Phase III EMPACTA trial of Actemra tocilizumab met the primary endpoint by showing a 44% reduction in progression to mechanical ventilation or death vs. placebo plus standard of care in patients with COVID-19 associated pneumonia (p=0.0348). ...