When your body is exposed to the coronavirus for the first time, your immune system can go into shock. It starts releasing alarm chemicals (cytokines) to mobilize more immune cells that release more cytokines to mobilize even more immune cells. Soon, your blood has too many alarms (called cytokine storm) and your body is unable to perform functions necessary to keep you alive. Organs start shutting down because every cell in your body is freaking out and losing control.

In autopsies of patients who have been killed by the coronavirus, doctors have noted high concentrations of a signaling molecule called IL-6 (Interleukin 6). In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system accidentally targets the body’s own cells, specifically cells lining the joints leading to joint pain. Tocilizumab (Actemra) is a medication that was developed for binding to the IL-6 receptor on immune cells so that IL-6 cannot activate them during these critical moments. Actemra is an antibody antagonist – it competes with IL-6 for the parking spots available on the immune cells. By temporarily preventing IL-6 from binding to the immune cells, we are able to help your body regain control of itself and save the patient’s life.

During the cytokine storm of critically ill patients with COVID-19, by administering Actemra, we may be able to help your body regain control of normal functions – reducing the number of deaths caused by COVID-19.