Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has announced that its arthritis drug RoActemra ha not proven to be effective against COVID-19 in clinical trials.

The anti-inflammatory drug, which contains the active ingredient tocilizumab, did not improve the medical condition of hospitalised patients with pneumonia, nor did it lower their mortality.

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However, Roche said on Wednesday it would continue a separate COVID-19 trial that would combine RoActemra with the antiviral drug remdesivir, which was originally developed against Ebola.

Scientists around the world are testing various existing medications as potential treatments against COVID-19, including treatments against HIV and multiple sclerosis. (dpa/NAN)