Tocilizumab Reduces Mortality, Length Of ICU Stay At Day 28 In Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia And Low S-Spike Antibody Titers, Study Finds

Infectious Disease Advisor (6/16, Basilio) reports a study found that “tocilizumab significantly reduces mortality and length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay at day 28 in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and low SARS-Cov-2 spike protein (S-spike) neutralizing antibody (nAb) titers.” Researchers observed that “the 28-day mortality rates were similar between patients who received tocilizumab and those who received placebo (19.7% and 19.4%, respectively). However, the probability of ICU stay at 28 days was higher in the tocilizumab group (66.0% vs 61.5%).” They stated that “both total and S-spike nAbs had a positive correlation with 28-day mortality and ICU stay. Among patients with low S-spike nAb titers, the cumulative probability of 28-day mortality was lower for those who received tocilizumab vs placebo. In contrast, patients with higher S-spike nAb titers in the tocilizumab group exhibited no relative survival benefit.” The researchers also “noted low S-spike nAb titers conferred a similar benefit among patients who received tocilizumab in regard ICU stay.” The study was published in BMC Infectious Diseases.