The Australian Therapeutic Goods and Drugs Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval for the use of the drug tocilizumab in the treatment of COVID-19. Sold under the brand name “ACTEMRA” and produced by Roche, the drug is already an approved treatment for arthritis and inflammatory conditions and is the fourth COVID-19 treatment to be given regulatory approval in Australia. In a media release on Wednesday, the TGA stated tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody treatment that can be used intravenously to treat hospitalised people aged 18 and above who are confirmed to have  COVID-19 are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilation. The new drug works by not directly targeting SARS-CoV-2 proteins and instead works to reduce inflammation by blocking interleukin-6 receptors, which helps slow down the effects of the virus. Tocilizumab has also been shown to reduce time in hospital, as well as minimise the risk of requiring …