EU Reviews Swedish Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug as COVID Treatment Option

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] European pharmaceutical regulators are considering using arthritis treatments for COVID-19 therapy. Attention is focused on whether a second treatment approved by the EMA will emerge following Gilead Sciences' Remdesivir.

Major foreign media reported on the 19th (local time) that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is considering approving Kineret, a rheumatoid arthritis treatment developed by Swedish pharmaceutical company Sobi, as a COVID-19 treatment.

In a statement, the EMA said, "Kineret is believed to reduce inflammation and tissue damage related to COVID-19."

The EMA plans to analyze related data, including results from two clinical studies investigating the safety and efficacy of Kineret in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The evaluation results are expected around October.

Kineret is the second rheumatoid arthritis drug under EMA review for COVID-19 treatment, following Olumiant from the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. So far, the only drug approved for COVID-19 treatment in the European Union (EU) is Remdesivir.

The EMA is also reviewing antibody and antibody cocktail therapies jointly developed by Eli Lilly, Celltrion, Regeneron, GlaxoSmithKline, and Vir Biotechnology.

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