Use of the IL‐6R antagonist tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients

Abstract

Severely ill COVID‐19 patients have a high risk of admission to the intensive‐care unit (ICU) and requirement for mechanical ventilation (MV), with in‐hospital mortality reported as 18‐79% globally.^1‐4. Among ICU patients in the United States (US), centers have reported 50% mortality.^5,6 Tocilizumab, an IL‐6 receptor (IL‐6R) antagonist, is FDA approved for the management of CAR T‐cell related Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and may have utility in treatment of some COVID‐19 patients. We describe the clinical characteristics and initial outcomes of a cohort of patients treated with tocilizumab at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.