GSK Narrows Focus on Seniors in Trial to Treat Pneumonia From COVID-19

Reuters reports that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will extend a trial of an experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug on patients suffering from COVID-19-related pneumonia to concentrate on seniors. The trial began last May, demonstrating that oilimab helps patients older than 70 with severe COVID-19 to get off mechanical ventilation or high-flow oxygen support faster. Following 28 days of treatment, 65.1 percent of older patients on the drug, combined with standard of care, were alive and no longer requiring respiratory support, versus 45.9 percent of patients who only received standard of care. "Given the profound impact this pandemic is having on seniors and the encouraging data we are sharing today, we are hopeful this finding will be replicated in the additional cohort," said GSK's Christopher Corsico. GSK is expecting the initial results of the extended trial in the third quarter of 2021, after which the company will engage in discussions with regulators if those findings are verified.