The binding of proinflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) to the IL-6 receptor, which is present on the host's target cells, leads to the cytokine storm in patients with COVID-19.12 The treatment with tocilizumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to IL-6 receptors, has been proposed as a promising strategy to control the virus-induced cytokine storm.1-4 However, literature concerning tocilizumab's ability to offset the cytokine storm and reduce the risk of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients is severely lacking and remains to be validated in clinical trials. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and COVID-19.