On Apr. 8, 2020, Chugai Pharma announced that it is working to start a phase III clinical trial in Japan with the humanized anti-human IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody, ‘Actemra’ Intravenous Infusion 80 mg, 200 mg, and 400 mg [generic name: tocilizumab (genetical recombination)] in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Actemra is the first therapeutic antibody created in Japan by Chugai, and designed to block the activity of IL-6, a type of inflammatory cytokine. Launched in Jun., 2005, the drug intravenous injection is approved for six indications in Japan: Castleman’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, cytokine release syndrome induced by tumor-specific T cell infusion therapy, and adult Still’s disease.