Sarilumab is a rheumatoid arthritis agent, being a fully human monoclonal antibody, which inhibits the interleukin-6 (IL-6) pathway and is used as part of a clinical programme to treat hospitalised patients with severe COVID-19 coronavirus infection.IL-6 is associated with the overactive inflammatory response in the lungs of severely or critically ill COVID-19 patients.This agent is not yet available in SA. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is rheumatoid arthritis.