As China approves arthritis drug for coronavirus treatment

With new tolls and key developments, here is the latest in the coronavirus crisis.

3,300 dead

Across the world, 3,300 people have died from the virus. There have been 96,414 infections in 84 countries and territories, according to AFP’s latest toll based on official sources at 1100 GMT Thursday.

The main countries affected: mainland China (80,409 cases, 3,012 deaths), South Korea (6,088 cases, 35 deaths), Italy (3,089 cases, 107 deaths), Iran, (3,513 cases, 107 deaths).

Air traffic hit

The airline industry could lose up to $113 billion in revenue this year, an industry body warns.

British regional airline Flybe crashes into bankruptcy after the virus proves to be the final nail in the coffin for the biggest operator of UK domestic flights.

Shutting down

Italy announces its sporting events will be held behind closed doors until April 3. Morocco says its football matches will also be shut to spectators.

Saudi Arabia suspends the “umrah” year-round pilgrimage that attracts annually millions of people to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The church built on the Bethlehem site revered as the birthplace of Jesus will temporarily close after a suspected coronavirus outbreak.

Organisers of a major African business forum attended by business and political leaders announce that the annual event scheduled for March 9 and 10 in Ivory Coast has been postponed.

Japan quarantine

Japan announces it will quarantine people coming from China and South Korea for two weeks on arrival.

It also postpones the state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled for this spring.

California emergency

California declares a state of emergency as thousands travelling aboard a cruise ship are held off the coast over fears of a new outbreak.

Eleven passengers and 10 crew members are potentially infected with the virus, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Millions of students out of school

Some 290.5 million students worldwide face weeks at home as 13 countries shut schools and nine others implement localised closures, according to UNESCO.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has approved an anti-inflammation drug, Actemra (tocilizumab), manufactured by the Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche, for the treatment of patients who are developing severe complications from coronavirus.

Actemra is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs.

Roche was quoted as saying that a third party has initiated the trial independently to explore the efficacy and safety of the drug in coronavirus patients with cytokine release syndrome (CRS).

According to the online portal, Pharmaceutical Technology, the latest development comes as China’s National Health Commission announced that it was searching for new ways to combat the deadly virus, which has so far killed 3,300 persons, alongside 96,414 infections in 84 countries and territories.

In its latest treatment guidelines published online, the Chinese commission said the biologic drug Actemra can now be used to treat coronavirus patients who have severe lung damage and high IL-6 levels.

The Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a protein produced by various cells. It helps regulate immune responses, which makes the IL-6 test potentially useful as a marker of immune system activation. IL-6 can be elevated with inflammation, infection, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers.

In 2010, Actemra secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The drug is capable of inhibiting high Interleukin 6 (IL-6) protein levels that drive some inflammatory diseases, FDA had noted.

Researchers in China have also put the 10-year-old medication to a clinical trial, and are expected to enroll a total of 188 patients with Covid-19 on it.

AFP/Punch