On Mar. 18, 2020, Genentech announced that the company was working with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III clinical trial in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Health and Human Services, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Actemra^® (tocilizumab) plus standard of care in hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia compared to placebo plus standard of care.

The study, COVACTA, evaluated the safety and efficacy of intravenous Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) on top of standard of care in hospitalised adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia compared to placebo on top of standard of care.