1*Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Madhapur, Hyderabad-500081, India
2,3,4Student, Sri Venkateshwara College of Pharmacy, Madhapur, Hyderabad-500081, India
5MBBS, MD, FNB (Infectious diseases) CICK, DRCPath, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, India
6Assistant Professor, Department of Pharm D, Vaagdevi Pharmacy College, Bollikunta, Warangal, Telangana, 506002, India
Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic with high mortality, particularly among patients who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Severe disease is often associated with cytokine release syndrome, characterized by elevated inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the IL-6 receptor, is widely used in rheumatological conditions and has been explored as an off-label therapy for moderate to severe COVID-19 to control hyperinflammation.
Aim: To evaluate the role of Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients aged above 18 years who were RT-PCR positive for COVID-19 and received Tocilizumab therapy during hospitalization between May 2020 and May 2021. Demographic data, inflammatory markers (IL-6, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, white blood cell count), and drug-related details such as dosage, frequency, and duration were collected using a structured data collection form. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate treatment outcomes.
Results: Among the study population, 76% were male and 24% were female. Patients aged 41–60 years and those above 61 years each constituted 46% of the sample. Higher mortality was observed in patients above 61 years. Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity, followed by hypertension and coronary artery disease. Most patients had moderate to severe CT severity scores. ARDS was the most frequent complication. All patients received intravenous Tocilizumab 400 mg, with most receiving a single dose. Significant reductions in IL-6, CRP, and D-dimer levels were observed after treatment. Clinical improvement was noted in 72% of patients.
Conclusion: Tocilizumab therapy was associated with improved clinical outcomes and reduced inflammatory markers in patients with severe COVID-19, particularly in those below 60 years and without major comorbidities. Larger randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.
Keywords: COVID-19, Cytokine storm, Tocilizumab and ARDS.
How to cite this article: Saikrishna K, Karthik PN, Kodali M, Bhavana S, Rao PV, Goud MS. An Observational Study On Cocktail Antibodies Treatment In Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 481-489; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.72
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None