BARDA throws weight behind Kevzara, Actemra studies as IL-6 inhibition gains momentum for late-stage COVID-19

HHS will fund trials of Regeneron’s Kevzara and Genentech’s Actemra to treat COVID-19. Both IL-6 inhibitors, which will be evaluated in patients with later-stage disease and respiratory deterioration, entered pivotal studies in the past week.

The agency said Saturday it would fund the Phase II/III study of Kevzara sarilumab, the start of which was announced March 16 by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN) and partner Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NASDAQ:SNY). The adaptive trial is to enroll up to 400 hospitalized patients with severe disease, who will receive best supportive care plus Kevzara or placebo...