Greek Drug Reduces Covid-19 Deaths by Up to 50%

Covid-19 greek drug Anakinra, marketed as Kineret, reduces deaths by Covid up to 50%, according to new research

A new Greek drug reduces deaths from Covid by up to 50%, according to the panel that approves new medicines for the European Medicines Agency.

Kineret® (anakinra) has received the go-ahead from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the EMA for the treatment of patients suffering from Covid-19-related pneumonia.

A study designed and coordinated by the Greek Sepsis 2 Study Team, led by Professor Evangelos Giamarellos-Bourboulis, was carried out in collaboration with 37 centres in Greece and Italy.

Greek drug for rheumatoid arthritis repurposed to fight Covid-19

The drug had actually been on the market for many years already as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

“Until Anakinra was approved, we had only two drugs available for patients being treated for coronavirus pneumonia. Anakinra has now been added to the global quiver,” said Giamarellos.

“The percentages are amazing. It is the most effective among the three drugs used for hospital use,” he noted, remarking that this will greatly aid in the battle against the coronavirus that the National Health System is currently fighting.

“At a time when many countries still face enormous pressure as they continue to care for extremely ill patients, today’s positive opinion from the CHMP represents an important milestone for the treatment of COVID-19. If approved by the European Commission, this will be welcome news for many across Europe,” said Ravi Rao, Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at Sobi, a biopharmaceutical firm focused on rare diseases.