WHO and Unitaid are concerned by Roche’s statement yesterday, warning of a global shortage of tocilizumab (brand name Actemra/RoActemra), an IL6 inhibitor WHO recommended in June for use as a treatment for severe COVID-19 cases. Tocilizumab can play a key role in decreasing mortality and reducing need for invasive mechanical ventilation among severely ill patients, when delivered alongside oxygen and corticosteroids.

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https://www.who.int/news/item/18-08-2021-joint-statement-from-unitaid-and-the-world-health-organization-(on-behalf-of-the-access-to-covid-19-tools-accelerator)-regarding-availability-of-tocilizumab