Prognosis
Roche Partners With Gilead in Covid Trial of Drug Combination
- Late-stage study looks at pairing of Actemra with remdesivir
- Roche also increases size of separate late-stage Actemra study
A vial of the drug Remdesivir
Photographer: Ulrich Perrey/AFP via Getty Images
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Roche Holding AG and Gilead Sciences Inc. are initiating a late-stage trial of a two-drug combination in hopes of creating a new weapon in the battle against Covid-19.
The study will pair Roche’s immune suppressor Actemra along with Gilead’s antiviral remdesivir, the only drug shown so far to fight the coronavirus, in treating patients with severe pneumonia, Roche said in a statement. The results of the combination will be compared to those from patients who receive remdesivir and a placebo.