Roche joins China’s Covid-19 treatment guideline

China has listed Roche’s rheumatoid arthritis drug, Actemra, in its latest provisional treatment guidelines for Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The National Health Commission added the drug to treat patients who have “extensive lung damage or are in serious condition, with elevated levels of interleukin-6,” updated guidelines state.

Roche’s biologic therapy, generically known as tocilizumab, does not act on viruses, but it is known to inhibit IL-6, a type of protein that causes inflammation in the body, which, in this case, could be helpful in preventing a cytokine storm from occurring in Covid-19 patients.

According the Swiss drug developer’s blog on WeChat, in February, the company has donated CNY 14 million (roughly $2 million) worth of Actemra supplies to the country, in addition to cash and other medical supplies since the outbreak began. Researchers have been testing existing medicines to treat Covid-19 and, according to FiercePharma, recently launched a clinical trial testing Actemra.