This holiday season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 called Tocilizumab. Developed in 1997 by Chugai Pharmaceuticals in Japan, Tocilizumab works by blocking receptors that stimulate inflammation when the body is exposed to a pathogen. Since then, it has been approved in Japan, the United States and the European Union for the treatment of various diseases. In June 2021, the FDA approved Tocilizumab via emergency use authorization to treat Covid-19 in hospitalized adult patients in moderate to severe conditions.
This approval is encouraging news for those hoping for a treatment for Covid-19. It shows that treatments are available and that efforts to develop and distribute treatments must continue with the same urgency we had in the early months of the pandemic. While the full approval by the FDA is still pending, this is a reminder that we must continue to search for new treatments and pursue their distribution with the same urgency as before.
It's important to remember that although Tocilizumab is an encouraging sign, it is not the only treatment available for Covid-19. There are many other treatments and vaccines that are being developed and distributed to help combat the virus and to keep us safe. As 15-year-olds, it's important to stay informed and to remain cautious in order to protect ourselves and those around us.