Efficacy of Tocilizumab on Patients With COVID-19

Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT04356937
Collaborator
Genentech, Inc. (Industry)
243
3
2
4.2
81
19.1

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This is a randomized, double blind, multi-center study to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab compared to placebo on patient outcomes in participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and evidence of systemic inflammation.

The aim of this study is to test the effect of Tocilizumab on multi-organ dysfunction in a phase 3 randomized controlled trial among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection.

Specifically, as compared to placebo, we will test whether tocilizumab is associated with a reduction in multi-organ dysfunction among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with elevated inflammatory measures. Multi-organ dysfunction will be measured as the incidence of the following composite endpoint (mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, mechanical support, need for inotropes or vasopressors, liver dysfunction (increased bilirubin), and all-cause mortality). We will also assess multiple pre-specified secondary (exploratory) endpoints and safety endpoints.

We hypothesize that, as compared to placebo, tocilizumab will reduce transfer to the ICU, need for mechanical ventilation, increase rates of hospital discharge in patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 infection and evidence of exaggerated inflammatory response.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Phase 3

Detailed Description

As of April 3, 2020, COVID-19 has been confirmed in over 1 million people worldwide, with an estimated symptomatic case fatality ratio of around 1.4%. Currently without an effective treatment for SARS-CoV-2 there is an urgent need for effective treatment to curtail the rate of respiratory failure, the leading cause of mortality in COVID-19 disease. Moreover, with increasing numbers of patients requiring intensive unit level care and mechanical ventilation, nations are already having to triage patients for ventilatory support due to limited resources and healthcare systems around the world being stretched to the point of collapse, highlighting the importance of identifying interventions that could prevent the development of respiratory failure for these patients.

The disease course of COVID-19 includes an incubation period, an acute viral phase that most commonly presents with flu-like symptoms that in some individuals progresses to a severe hyperinflammatory phase marked by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hypoxemic respiratory failure.Though there is spectrum of clinical course, many progress to the hyperinflammatory phase around day seven of symptoms, often requiring intensive care unit (ICU) level care and mechanical ventilation. Accumulating evidence suggests that the pathophysiology underlying this profound decline is a severe inflammatory response as demonstrated by multi organ system dysfunction akin to cytokine release syndrome (CRS)/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).CRS/MAS is a systemic hyperinflammatory syndrome on a spectrum with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH), typically characterized by multiorgan failure that is often triggered by viral infections in the setting of excessive immune activation, typically with marked hyperferritinemia.Postmortem assessment of patients with COVID-19 have demonstrated pathologic findings consistent with MAS such as mono/lymphocytic infiltrates within the lung parenchyma with associated edema and alveolar congestion, splenic necrosis with macrophage proliferation and hemophagocytosis, as well as a lymphocyte/histiocyte predominate infiltrate of portal vasculature accompanying liver necrosis and sinusoidal congestion.Cytokine profiling of patients with MAS/sHLH overlaps with that seen in patients with severe COVID-19 and includes elevated levels of IL-1, IL-2, IL-7, IL-6, G-CSF, MCP- 1, and TNF-α as well as elevated D-dimer, C-reactive protein, LDH and troponins.Moreover, preliminary data from a non-randomized series of COVID-19 patients with "severe or critical COVID-19" from China who were treated with tocilizumab (in addition to standard therapies) showed they had dramatic improvement in fever, arterial oxygen saturation and inflammatory markers within the first 24-hours following administration.

Taken together, these data strongly suggest an immunologic link between COVID-19 and immune dysregulation resulting in MAS. Clinical trials are already underway studying the role of immunomodulatory therapy including modulation of IL-1 and IL-6 and downstream pathways in the setting of CAR-T induced MAS (NCT04150913, NCT04071366) and agents such anakinra and tocilizumab have been used in this context with promising results and good safety profiles. There is an urgent and dire need to study the therapeutic role for immunomodulatory therapy in COVID-19 disease to both halt disease progression in patients at an individual level and prevent the inevitable saturation of healthcare resources at a systems level, to which end there are numerous ongoing international trials to expand these efforts into the setting of COVID-19 infection (ChiCTR2000029765, NCT04324021, TOCOVID-19). Based on the MGH experience thus far with COVID-19, including over 200 patients to date, the need for mechanical ventilation has been approximately 30%. With the upcoming surge anticipated between April 17th and 21st we expect the need for hundreds of additional ICU beds. Investigators propose a trial of IL-6 receptor blockade with tocilizumab given early in disease course to try to prevent progression of COVID-19.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Actual Enrollment :
243 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
Prospective, multi-center, randomized,double blind, placebo-controlled trialProspective, multi-center, randomized,double blind, placebo-controlled trial
Masking:
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Masking Description:
Subjects who meet all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be randomized 2:1 to tocilizumab or placebo.
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Tocilizumab to Prevent the Progression of Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in Hospitalized Non-Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19
Actual Study Start Date :
Apr 20, 2020
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Jul 13, 2020
Actual Study Completion Date :
Aug 27, 2020

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Tocilizumab

Review effect of Tocilizumab on multi-organ dysfunction in a phase 3 randomized controlled trial among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Participants will receive an intravenous (IV) injection of 8 mg/kg (not to exceed 800 mg) tocilizumab.Specifically, as compared to placebo, we will test whether tocilizumab is associated with a reduction in multi-organ dysfunction among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with elevated inflammatory measures.

Drug: Tocilizumab
Patients will receive the standard treatment for COVID-19 per MGH guidance and also be randomized (2:1) to one of the following arms: Tocilizumab 8mg x 1 (n=185) Standard of care/Placebo (n=93)
Other Names:
  • Actemra
  • Placebo Comparator: Standard of care plus placebo

    Participants will receive an placebo intravenous (IV) injection of 8 mg/kg (not to exceed 800 mg).Specifically, as compared to placebo, we will test whether tocilizumab is associated with a reduction in multi-organ dysfunction among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with elevated inflammatory measures.

    Drug: Placebos
    Patients will receive the standard treatment for COVID-19 per MGH guidance and also be randomized (2:1) to one of the following arms: Tocilizumab 8mg x 1 (n=185) Standard of care/Placebo (n=93)

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Mechanical Ventilation or Death [28 days]

      Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to requiring mechanical ventilation and intubation, or death for subjects who die prior to intubation. The percentages of patients who have been intubated or died as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. Clinical Worsening on Ordinal Scale [28 days]

      Time from administration of the investigational medication (or placebo) to at least one point worsening on the clinical improvement scale for subjects requiring supplemental oxygen (score >= 3) at baseline, or at least two point worsening otherwise (score = 2 at baseline). The percentages of patients who have worsened as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve. Ordinal Scale Discharged Non-ICU hospital ward not requiring supplemental oxygen Non-ICU hospital ward requiring supplemental oxygen ICU or non-ICU hospital ward, requiring non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen ICU, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation ICU, requiring ECMO or mechanical ventilation and additional organ support Death

    2. Discontinuation of Supplemental Oxygen Among Patients Receiving it at Baseline [28 days]

      Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to absence of the need for supplemental oxygen among those who require at least supplemental oxygen at baseline. The percentages of patients who have discontinued supplemental oxygen as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.

    Other Outcome Measures

    1. Duration of Supplemental Oxygen [28 days]

      Time from initiation of supplemental oxygen to end of supplemental oxygen use during 28-day study follow-up period. We includes all subjects in the analysis by assigning all subjects who did not receive supplemental oxygen a value of 0. Subjects who died prior to discontinuation of supplemental oxygen were given a value of the number of days from when supplemental oxygen began until the end of the follow-up period.

    2. Duration of Mechanical Ventilation [28 days]

      Time from initiation of mechanical ventilation to end of mechanical ventilation during 28-day study follow-up period, among patients who received mechanical ventilation. Event times of patients who died without discontinuation of mechanical ventilation were censored at 28 days. Median and inter-quartile range (IQR) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. The upper limit for the IQR was not reached for both arms and entered as 28 in the outcome measure data table.

    3. Mortality [28 days]

      Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to death. The percentage of patients who have died as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.

    4. ICU Admission or Death Among Those Not in the ICU at the Time of Administration of Investigational Agent (or Placebo) [28 days]

      The percentage of subjects requiring ICU admission between baseline and 28 days is calculated by dividing the number of subjects requiring ICU admission over their hospitalization by the number of evaluable subjects (i.e., the number of subjects not in the ICU at the time of investigational treatment administration).

    5. Hospital Discharge [28 days]

      Time from administration of the investigational medication (or placebo) to initial hospital discharge. Event times for patient who die are censored at day 29 to indicate that they never left the hospital during the follow-up period. The percentages of patients who were discharged as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.

    6. Clinical Improvement on Ordinal Scale [28 days]

      Time to first improvement from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) of at least 2 points (or the maximum amount) on the ordinal scale. Event times for patients who died prior to reaching this endpoint are censored at 29 days. Ordinal Scale Discharged Non-ICU hospital ward not requiring supplemental oxygen Non-ICU hospital ward requiring supplemental oxygen ICU or non-ICU hospital ward, requiring non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen ICU, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation ICU, requiring ECMO or mechanical ventilation and additional organ support Death

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 85 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No
    Inclusion criteria:

    Subjects who meet all of the following criteria will be eligible to participate in the study:

    1. Must have provided informed consent in a manner approved by the Investigator's Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) prior to any assessments. If a patient is unable to provide informed consent due to their medical condition, the patient's legally authorized representative may consent on behalf of the study patient, as permitted by local law and institutional Standard Operating Procedures;

    2. Age Range: 19-85 years old

    3. Male or female gender

    4. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by nasopharyngeal swab PCR or serum assay for IgM antibody

    5. Requiring hospital but not mechanical ventilation

    6. Oxygen supplementation not greater than 10L delivered by any device

    7. WITH evidence of severe COVID-19 (at least 2 of the following):

    8. Fever > 38C within 72 hours

    9. Pulmonary infiltrate on CXR

    10. Need for supplemental O2 to maintain saturation > 92%

    11. AND at least 1 of the following:

    12. Ferritin > 500 ng/ml

    13. CRP > 50 mg/L

    14. LDH >250 U/L

    15. D-dimer > 1000 ng/mL

    16. Women of childbearing potential (ie, not post-menopausal or surgically sterilized) must have a negative highly sensitive urine or serum pregnancy test before randomization. Participating women of childbearing potential must be willing to consistently use effective methods of contraception (ie, condom, combined oral contraceptive, implant, injectable, indwelling intrauterine device, or a vasectomized partner) from screening until at least 90 days after administration of the last dose of study drug;

    17. The subject must be willing and able to provide informed consent and abide all study requirements and restrictions.

    Exclusion criteria:

    Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in the study:

    1. Unable to provide verbal informed consent or have verbal agreement to participate through attestation and signature of a Witness required, as outlined in the Partners IRB's Table for Consenting in COVID Research that is More than Minimal Risk.

    2. Subjects between the ages of 79 and 86 will be excluded if they have NYHA Class III/IV heart failure, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, angina, or treatment of a malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) within six months

    3. Uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or non-COVID viral infection

    4. Active TB

    5. Any prior investigational immunosuppressive therapy within 28-days or 3 half-lives of the agent (for instance with biologic or JAK inhibitor)

    6. Any concurrent immunosuppressive medication that the PI believes would put the patient at higher risk

    7. Receipt of intravenous tocilizumab for the treatment of a non-COVID condition within three weeks of the first COVID symptom

    8. History of hypersensitivity to tocilizumab

    9. Any concurrent immunosuppressive medication that the PI believes would put the patient at higher risk

    10. Treatment with other biologic or small-molecule immunosuppressive therapy such as IL1R-antagonism, JAK inhibition, or other agents

    11. Treatment with convalescent plasma

    12. History of diverticulitis or bowel perforation

    13. ANC <500, Platelets <50,000*

    14. AST/ALT > 5X ULN

    15. Women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in the next 90 days;

    16. Any condition that could interfere with, or for Known allergy to the study drug or any of its ingredients or known allergy to any other anti IL 6 agents;

    17. Any condition that could interfere with or for which the treatment might interfere with, the conduct of the study or interpretation of the study results, or that would, in the opinion of the Investigator, increase the risk of the subject by participating in the study.

    We note that anti-viral therapies may be administered to subjects if given in the context of a clinical trial. Nitric oxide treatment is also permitted at the discretion of the care team, ideally in the context of a clinical trial. Co-treatment chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and/or azithromycin is permitted for subjects in this protocol.

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 Massachusetts General Hospital Boston Massachusetts United States 02114
    2 Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts United States 02115
    3 Newton-Wellesley Hospital Newton Massachusetts United States 02462

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • Massachusetts General Hospital
    • Genentech, Inc.

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: John H Stone, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    Stone, John H, M.D., M.P.H, Principal Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT04356937
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • 2020P001159
    First Posted:
    Apr 22, 2020
    Last Update Posted:
    Jul 27, 2021
    Last Verified:
    Jul 1, 2021
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    No
    Plan to Share IPD:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    Yes
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
    No

    Study Results

    Participant Flow

    Recruitment Details
    Pre-assignment Detail
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Period Title: Randomization (Safety Population)
    STARTED 161 82
    COMPLETED 161 82
    NOT COMPLETED 0 0
    Period Title: Randomization (Safety Population)
    STARTED 161 82
    COMPLETED 161 81
    NOT COMPLETED 0 1

    Baseline Characteristics

    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Standard of Care Plus Placebo Total
    Arm/Group Description Review effect of Tocilizumab on multi-organ dysfunction in a phase 3 randomized controlled trial among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection. Participants will receive an intravenous (IV) injection of 8 mg/kg (not to exceed 800 mg) tocilizumab. Specifically, as compared to placebo, we will test whether tocilizumab is associated with a reduction in multi-organ dysfunction among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with elevated inflammatory measures. Tocilizumab: Patients will receive the standard treatment for COVID-19 per MGH guidance and also be randomized (2:1) to one of the following arms: Tocilizumab 8mg x 1 Standard of care/Placebo Participants will receive an placebo intravenous (IV) injection of 8 mg/kg (not to exceed 800 mg).Specifically, as compared to placebo, we will test whether tocilizumab is associated with a reduction in multi-organ dysfunction among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with elevated inflammatory measures. Placebos: Patients will receive the standard treatment for COVID-19 per MGH guidance and also be randomized (2:1) to one of the following arms: Tocilizumab 8mg x 1 Standard of care/Placebo Total of all reporting groups
    Overall Participants 161 82 243
    Age (years) [Median (Inter-Quartile Range) ]
    Median (Inter-Quartile Range) [years]
    61.6
    56.5
    59.8
    Sex: Female, Male (Count of Participants)
    Female
    65
    40.4%
    37
    45.1%
    102
    42%
    Male
    96
    59.6%
    45
    54.9%
    141
    58%
    Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) (Count of Participants)
    Hispanic or Latino
    70
    43.5%
    39
    47.6%
    109
    44.9%
    Not Hispanic or Latino
    84
    52.2%
    35
    42.7%
    119
    49%
    Unknown or Not Reported
    7
    4.3%
    8
    9.8%
    15
    6.2%
    Race/Ethnicity, Customized (Count of Participants)
    American Indian or Alaska Native
    1
    0.6%
    0
    0%
    1
    0.4%
    Asian
    7
    4.3%
    2
    2.4%
    9
    3.7%
    Black
    24
    14.9%
    16
    19.5%
    40
    16.5%
    Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
    0
    0%
    1
    1.2%
    1
    0.4%
    White
    71
    44.1%
    33
    40.2%
    104
    42.8%
    Other
    35
    21.7%
    15
    18.3%
    50
    20.6%
    Unknown
    23
    14.3%
    15
    18.3%
    38
    15.6%
    Region of Enrollment (Count of Participants)
    United States
    161
    100%
    82
    100%
    243
    100%
    BMI (kg/m^2) [Median (Inter-Quartile Range) ]
    Median (Inter-Quartile Range) [kg/m^2]
    29.9
    30.2
    30.1
    BMI ≥ 30 kg/m^2 (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    80
    49.7%
    42
    51.2%
    122
    50.2%
    Days from symptom onset to randomization (days) [Median (Inter-Quartile Range) ]
    Median (Inter-Quartile Range) [days]
    9.0
    10.0
    9.0
    Hypertension (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    80
    49.7%
    38
    46.3%
    118
    48.6%
    Heart failure (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    17
    10.6%
    7
    8.5%
    24
    9.9%
    History of myocardial infarction (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    15
    9.3%
    6
    7.3%
    21
    8.6%
    Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    15
    9.3%
    7
    8.5%
    22
    9.1%
    Asthma (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    15
    9.3%
    7
    8.5%
    22
    9.1%
    Smoking status (Count of Participants)
    Current smoker
    7
    4.3%
    0
    0%
    7
    2.9%
    Former smoker
    46
    28.6%
    26
    31.7%
    72
    29.6%
    Lifelong nonsmoker
    99
    61.5%
    48
    58.5%
    147
    60.5%
    Unknown
    9
    5.6%
    8
    9.8%
    17
    7%
    Diabetes (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    45
    28%
    30
    36.6%
    75
    30.9%
    History of cancer (Count of Participants)
    Count of Participants [Participants]
    22
    13.7%
    8
    9.8%
    30
    12.3%

    Outcome Measures

    1. Primary Outcome
    Title Mechanical Ventilation or Death
    Description Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to requiring mechanical ventilation and intubation, or death for subjects who die prior to intubation. The percentages of patients who have been intubated or died as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    14 days
    9.9
    10.0
    28 days
    10.6
    12.5
    Statistical Analysis 1
    Statistical Analysis Overview Comparison Group Selection Tocilizumab, Placebo
    Comments
    Type of Statistical Test Superiority
    Comments
    Statistical Test of Hypothesis p-Value 0.64
    Comments
    Method Log Rank
    Comments
    Method of Estimation Estimation Parameter Hazard Ratio (HR)
    Estimated Value 0.83
    Confidence Interval (2-Sided) 95%
    0.38 to 1.81
    Parameter Dispersion Type:
    Value:
    Estimation Comments
    2. Secondary Outcome
    Title Clinical Worsening on Ordinal Scale
    Description Time from administration of the investigational medication (or placebo) to at least one point worsening on the clinical improvement scale for subjects requiring supplemental oxygen (score >= 3) at baseline, or at least two point worsening otherwise (score = 2 at baseline). The percentages of patients who have worsened as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve. Ordinal Scale Discharged Non-ICU hospital ward not requiring supplemental oxygen Non-ICU hospital ward requiring supplemental oxygen ICU or non-ICU hospital ward, requiring non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen ICU, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation ICU, requiring ECMO or mechanical ventilation and additional organ support Death
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    Day 14
    18.0
    14.9
    Day 28
    19.3
    17.4
    Statistical Analysis 1
    Statistical Analysis Overview Comparison Group Selection Tocilizumab, Placebo
    Comments
    Type of Statistical Test Superiority
    Comments
    Statistical Test of Hypothesis p-Value 0.73
    Comments
    Method Log Rank
    Comments
    Method of Estimation Estimation Parameter Hazard Ratio (HR)
    Estimated Value 1.11
    Confidence Interval (2-Sided) 95%
    0.59 to 2.10
    Parameter Dispersion Type:
    Value:
    Estimation Comments
    3. Secondary Outcome
    Title Discontinuation of Supplemental Oxygen Among Patients Receiving it at Baseline
    Description Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to absence of the need for supplemental oxygen among those who require at least supplemental oxygen at baseline. The percentages of patients who have discontinued supplemental oxygen as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    A subset of 204 patients from the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population who required at least supplemental oxygen at baseline. 138 patients in the tocilizumab group and 66 patients in the placebo group required at least supplemental oxygen at baseline.
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 138 66
    Day 14
    75.4
    78.8
    Day 28
    82.6
    84.9
    Statistical Analysis 1
    Statistical Analysis Overview Comparison Group Selection Tocilizumab, Placebo
    Comments
    Type of Statistical Test Superiority
    Comments
    Statistical Test of Hypothesis p-Value 0.69
    Comments
    Method Log Rank
    Comments
    Method of Estimation Estimation Parameter Hazard Ratio (HR)
    Estimated Value 0.94
    Confidence Interval (2-Sided) 95%
    0.67 to 1.30
    Parameter Dispersion Type:
    Value:
    Estimation Comments
    4. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title Duration of Supplemental Oxygen
    Description Time from initiation of supplemental oxygen to end of supplemental oxygen use during 28-day study follow-up period. We includes all subjects in the analysis by assigning all subjects who did not receive supplemental oxygen a value of 0. Subjects who died prior to discontinuation of supplemental oxygen were given a value of the number of days from when supplemental oxygen began until the end of the follow-up period.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    Median (Inter-Quartile Range) [days]
    4.0
    3.9
    5. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title Duration of Mechanical Ventilation
    Description Time from initiation of mechanical ventilation to end of mechanical ventilation during 28-day study follow-up period, among patients who received mechanical ventilation. Event times of patients who died without discontinuation of mechanical ventilation were censored at 28 days. Median and inter-quartile range (IQR) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves. The upper limit for the IQR was not reached for both arms and entered as 28 in the outcome measure data table.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    A subset of 19 patients from the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population who received mechanical ventilation during the study follow-up period. 11 patients in the tocilizumab group and 8 patients in the placebo group received mechanical ventilation.
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 11 8
    Median (Inter-Quartile Range) [days]
    15.0
    27.9
    6. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title Mortality
    Description Time from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) to death. The percentage of patients who have died as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    Day 14
    4.4
    1.3
    Day 28
    5.6
    3.8
    7. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title ICU Admission or Death Among Those Not in the ICU at the Time of Administration of Investigational Agent (or Placebo)
    Description The percentage of subjects requiring ICU admission between baseline and 28 days is calculated by dividing the number of subjects requiring ICU admission over their hospitalization by the number of evaluable subjects (i.e., the number of subjects not in the ICU at the time of investigational treatment administration).
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    A subset of 233 patients from the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population who were not in the ICU at baseline. 157 patients in the tocilizumab group and 76 patients in the placebo group were not in the ICU at baseline.
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 157 76
    Number [percentage of patients with event]
    15.9
    15.8
    8. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title Hospital Discharge
    Description Time from administration of the investigational medication (or placebo) to initial hospital discharge. Event times for patient who die are censored at day 29 to indicate that they never left the hospital during the follow-up period. The percentages of patients who were discharged as of day 14 and day 28 are estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve.
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    Day 14
    86.3
    81.5
    Day 28
    91.3
    88.9
    9. Other Pre-specified Outcome
    Title Clinical Improvement on Ordinal Scale
    Description Time to first improvement from administration of the investigational agent (or placebo) of at least 2 points (or the maximum amount) on the ordinal scale. Event times for patients who died prior to reaching this endpoint are censored at 29 days. Ordinal Scale Discharged Non-ICU hospital ward not requiring supplemental oxygen Non-ICU hospital ward requiring supplemental oxygen ICU or non-ICU hospital ward, requiring non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen ICU, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation ICU, requiring ECMO or mechanical ventilation and additional organ support Death
    Time Frame 28 days

    Outcome Measure Data

    Analysis Population Description
    Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, which includes 242 patients (161 in the tocilizumab group and 81 in the placebo group) who underwent randomization and received either tocilizumab or placebo before intubation or death
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    Measure Participants 161 81
    Day 14
    86.3
    81.5
    Day 28
    91.3
    88.9

    Adverse Events

    Time Frame 0-28 days. An AE is any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding),symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or other protocol-imposed intervention, regardless of attribution.
    Adverse Event Reporting Description An SAE death It is life threatening It requires or prolongs inpatient hospitalization. It results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity It results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect in a neonate/infant born to a mother exposed to the IMP. It is considered a significant medical event by the investigator based on medical judgment (e.g., may jeopardize the subject or may require medical/surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above).
    Arm/Group Title Tocilizumab Placebo
    Arm/Group Description Standard care plus a single dose of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg administered intravenously, not to exceed 800 mg) Standard care plus placebo
    All Cause Mortality
    Tocilizumab Placebo
    Affected / at Risk (%) # Events Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
    Total 9/161 (5.6%) 4/82 (4.9%)
    Serious Adverse Events
    Tocilizumab Placebo
    Affected / at Risk (%) # Events Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
    Total 19/161 (11.8%) 8/82 (9.8%)
    Blood and lymphatic system disorders
    Neutrophil count decreased 2/161 (1.2%) 2 0/82 (0%) 0
    Febrile Neutropenia 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Elevated Partial Thromboplastin Time 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Anemia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Bleeding 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Cardiac disorders
    Arterial ischemia 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Myocardial infarction 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Cardiogenic Shock 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Bradycardia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Hypertension 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Hospitalization for Syncope 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Gastrointestinal disorders
    Continued anorexia 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Hepatobiliary disorders
    Elevated liver function test: Alanine aminotransferase 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Elevated liver function test: Aspartate transaminase 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Infections and infestations
    Infection 4/161 (2.5%) 4 6/82 (7.3%) 6
    Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
    Hip fracture requiring hospitalization 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Nervous system disorders
    Seizure 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Stroke 2/161 (1.2%) 2 0/82 (0%) 0
    Parasthesia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Renal and urinary disorders
    Low output from nephrostomy tube 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Patient re-hospitalized because dialysis could not be arranged any other way 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Renal injury 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
    Hypoxia 2/161 (1.2%) 2 2/82 (2.4%) 3
    Pulmonary Fibrosis 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/82 (0%) 0
    Tracheostomy 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Tachypnea 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Dysphagia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    respiratory failure and intubation 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Respiratory Acidosis 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
    Hypothermia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Grade 3: Rash/allergic reaction 0/161 (0%) 0 1/82 (1.2%) 1
    Vascular disorders
    Deep venous thrombosis 2/161 (1.2%) 2 2/82 (2.4%) 2
    Pulmonary embolism 1/161 (0.6%) 1 2/82 (2.4%) 2
    Hypotension 3/161 (1.9%) 3 2/82 (2.4%) 2
    Other (Not Including Serious) Adverse Events
    Tocilizumab Placebo
    Affected / at Risk (%) # Events Affected / at Risk (%) # Events
    Total 20/161 (12.4%) 26/81 (32.1%)
    Blood and lymphatic system disorders
    Anemia 1/161 (0.6%) 1 2/81 (2.5%) 2
    decreased white blood cell count 3/161 (1.9%) 3 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Hypotension 2/161 (1.2%) 2 3/81 (3.7%) 3
    decreased hemoglobin 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    hypomagnesemia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Mild edema 0/161 (0%) 0 2/81 (2.5%) 2
    Cardiac disorders
    Bradycardia 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Hypertension 2/161 (1.2%) 2 2/81 (2.5%) 2
    Paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Ear and labyrinth disorders
    Ear ache 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Eye disorders
    Conjunctivitis 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Gastrointestinal disorders
    Diarrhea 2/161 (1.2%) 2 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Constipation 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Vomitting 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Immune system disorders
    Decreased poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
    worsening lower extremity wound 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    FALL WITH ABRASION 0/161 (0%) 0 2/81 (2.5%) 2
    Nervous system disorders
    Worsening confusion 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Dizziness 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Headache 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Renal and urinary disorders
    Acute kidney injury 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Increased alkaline phosphatase 1/161 (0.6%) 1 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    acute kidney injury with AGMA and hyperkalemia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
    Mucus plugging 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Oropharyngeal Dysphagia 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1
    Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
    Pruritic Rash 1/161 (0.6%) 1 0/81 (0%) 0
    Vascular disorders
    Acute superficial thrombophlebitis 0/161 (0%) 0 1/81 (1.2%) 1

    Limitations/Caveats

    [Not Specified]

    More Information

    Certain Agreements

    Principal Investigators are NOT employed by the organization sponsoring the study.

    There is NOT an agreement between Principal Investigators and the Sponsor (or its agents) that restricts the PI's rights to discuss or publish trial results after the trial is completed.

    Results Point of Contact

    Name/Title DRAI Director of Clinical Trials
    Organization Massachusetts General Hospital
    Phone 617-726-7938
    Email JHSTONE@mgh.harvard.edu
    Responsible Party:
    Stone, John H, M.D., M.P.H, Principal Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT04356937
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • 2020P001159
    First Posted:
    Apr 22, 2020
    Last Update Posted:
    Jul 27, 2021
    Last Verified:
    Jul 1, 2021