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.