Sanofi and Regeneron expand trials of potential treatment

Sanofi announced Monday that a first patient had been treated outside the United States as part of the global program of clinical trials of Kevzara (or sarilumab) for patients with a severe form of Covid-19.

The global clinical trial program using this drug developed jointly by Sanofi and the American biotechnology firm Regeneron has just been launched in Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Canada, Russia and the United States, specifies Sanofi in a press release. Sanofi is directing trials outside the United States and Regeneron conducting trials in the United States.

Kevzara is authorized in several countries for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis. It inhibits interleukin 6 (IL-6), which may play a role in the inflammatory immune response that causes the acute respiratory distress syndrome seen in patients with severe form of Covid-19.

" These clinical trials will collect important data and whether Kevzara improves the prognosis of patients with potentially fatal complications of Covid-19 infections by correcting the hyperinflammatory immune response seen in lungs colonized by the virus, " a said Doctor John Reed, Head of World Research and Development at Sanofi.

About 300 patients are expected to be enrolled in this two-part adaptive trial. Hospital patients with a severe or critical form of COVID-19 will be recruited in several countries.