Pfizer Inc.’s oral rheumatoid arthritis drug Xeljanz reduced death or respiratory failure in hospitalized Covid-19 patients with pneumonia in Brazil, meeting the study’s main goal.

A readout from a Phase IIb/III trial showed intravenous RLF-100 (aviptadil) met the primary endpoint of improving survival and recovery at 60 days post-treatment for respiratory failure in critically ill patients with Covid-19, bolstering the case for sponsors NeuroRx and Relief Therapeutics to reapply for emergency use authorization (EUA).

Critically ill Covid-19 patients recovered rapidly from respiratory failure after three days of treatment with RLF-100, a therapy granted fast-track designation in the United States, two drug companies said on Sunday.