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article mentions especially hope on IL-6 inhibitors
lse back up and running it seems, at least for now
someone trying to get in cheaper this morning ?
Level of IL-6 predicts respiratory failure in hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients
Abstract
The pandemic Coronavirus-disease 19 (COVID-19) is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical course. While most patients experience only mild symptoms, a relevant proportion develop severe disease progression with increasing hypoxia up to acute respiratory distress syndrome. The substantial number of patients with severe disease have strained intensive care capacities to an unprecedented level. Owing to the highly variable course and lack of reliable predictors for deterioration, we aimed to identify variables that allow the prediction of patients with a high risk of respiratory failure and need of mechanical ventilation Patients with PCR proven symptomatic COVID-19 infection hospitalized at our institution from 29th February to 27th March 2020 (n=40) were analyzed for baseline clinical and laboratory findings. Patients requiring mechanical ventilation 13/40 (32.5%) did not differ in age, comorbidities, radiological findings, respiratory rate or qSofa score. However, elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) was strongly associated with the need for mechanical ventilation (p=1.2.10-5). In addition, the maximal IL-6 level (cutoff 80 pg/ml) for each patient during disease predicted respiratory failure with high accuracy (p=1.7.10-8, AUC=0.98). The risk of respiratory failure for patients with IL-6 levels of = 80 pg/ml was 22 times higher compared to patients with lower IL-6 levels. In the current situation with overwhelmed intensive care units and overcrowded emergency rooms, correct triage of patients in need of intensive care is crucial. Our study shows that IL-6 is an effective marker that might be able to predict upcoming respiratory failure with high accuracy and help physicians correctly allocate patients at an early stage.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.01.20047381v1
11/3/20
Tiziana, meanwhile, will start assessing the drug in patients as soon as is practicable and will administer TZLS-501 using its proprietary formulation technology.
It said the features of its drug candidate should provide it with distinct advantages other anti-IL-6R mAbs such as Actemra and Kevzara in treating severely affected COVID-19 patients.
The aforementioned advantages are TZLS-501s dual mechanism of action to inhibit signalling by the membrane-bound and soluble IL-6 receptors along with the rapid depletion of circulating IL-6 cytokine, a major cause of lung damage.
We are excited to move forward with our clinical development plan to expedite evaluation in patients as soon as possible", said Tiziana's chief executive Dr Kunwar Shailubhai.
Gabriele Cerrone, chairman, added that Tiziana only became aware of the potential of its anti-IL6R mAb after people in Naples with lung problems caused by coronavirus started to respond to treatment with Actemra.
We are sitting on one of best anti-IL6R monoclonal antibodies on the market but had no idea it could be used for Covid-19 complications on the respiratory system as no-one had ever tried it before.
The first patients just enrolled in a trial testing the arthritis drug Actemra against the coronavirus. Results are expected in early summer.
9 hours ago
REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz
At least six coronavirus patients have been enrolled in a late-stage clinical trial testing the arthritis drug Actemra as a coronavirus treatment.
Mark Eisner, Genentech's global head of immunology, infectious disease, and ophthalmology clinical development, told Business Insider on Monday the study enrolled the first patients on Friday in the US and Spain.
The study will see if the anti-inflammatory drug can help coronavirus patients with severe cases recover.
The trial will enroll 330 people across the world, and Genentech is hoping to have initial results in early summer, Eisner said.
The first patients have enrolled in a major late-stage clinical trial testing the arthritis drug Actemra as a coronavirus treatment, Business Insider has learned.
The study will ultimately enroll 330 people globally and produce initial results in early summer. Participants have to have severe cases of COVID-19, marked by pneumonia and requiring hospitalization.
Enrolled patients will randomly receive either an IV infusion of Actemra or a matching placebo. After a month, physicians will assess their clinical status on a seven-category scale to see if they improved or worsened. The trial will help answer if Actemra can provide a real benefit to patients with severe COVID-19 cases, particularly after anecdotal reports of its efficacy came out of China.
So far, at least six patients have been enrolled at trial sites in the US and Spain, Mark Eisner, Genentech's global head of immunology, infectious disease, and ophthalmology clinical development, told Business Insider on Monday. Genentech is a subsidiary of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche.
Rather than directly fighting the virus, Actemra is an anti-inflammatory drug that may help alleviate symptoms in COVID-19 patients. In particular, some severe cases have been marked by an overactive immune response that can damage the lungs. This testing will help answer if Actemra can help these patients.
"It's a very good hypothesis, but it's one that needs rigorous testing in a clinical trial so we can give clinicians, patients, their families, other stakeholders, a clear and definitive answer to what Actemra can do or not do in this disease," Eisner said.
The timing of the results will depend on how quickly patients can enroll at the various sites, Eisner said. So far, Genentech is hoping for early summer.
Actemra isn't the only drug being tested in this anti-inflammatory hypothesis. The biotech Regeneron has also launched a study of its arthritis therapy Kevzara. Both drugs have the same target, called the IL-6 cytokine.