The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for many for over one year. Vaccination has helped decrease the number of cases, but there are still multiple challenges to end the pandemic, such as the advent of variants, vaccine hesitancy, access to vaccines, and the impaired efficacy of vaccines in immunocompromised persons. Due to the hyperinflammatory state of SARS-COV-2 infections, research has been done on treatments that curtail the hyperinflammation. One such drug is tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell induced cytokine release syndrome. Much has been done to study the possible benefits of tocilizumab in COVID-19 management. Although some studies have conflicting results, it seems that tocilizumab may be beneficial for those with severe hyperinflammatory states, those who use it in conjunction with corticosteroids, and patients requiring at least high flow oxygenation therapy but not mechanical ventilation.

Tocilizumab, COVID-19, SARS-CoV2