Blockage of interleukin-1β with canakinumab in patients with Covid-19

Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 11;10(1):21775. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78492-y.

Abstract

There is the urgent need to study the effects of immunomodulating agents as therapy for Covid-19. An observational, cohort, prospective study with 30 days of observation was carried out to assess clinical outcomes in 88 patients hospitalized for Covid-19 pneumonia and treated with canakinumab (300 mg sc). Median time from diagnosis of Covid-19 by viral swab to administration of canakinumab was 7.5 days (range 0-30, IQR 4-11). Median PaO2/FiO2 increased from 160 (range 53-409, IQR 122-210) at baseline to 237 (range 72-533, IQR 158-331) at day 7 after treatment with canakinumab (p < 0.0001). Improvement of oxygen support category was observed in 61.4% of cases. Median duration of hospitalization following administration of canakinumab was 6 days (range 0-30, IQR 4-11). At 7 days, 58% of patients had been discharged and 12 (13.6%) had died. Significant differences between baseline and 7 days were observed for absolute lymphocyte counts (mean 0.60 vs 1.11 × 109/L, respectively, p < 0.0001) and C-reactive protein (mean 31.5 vs 5.8 mg/L, respectively, p < 0.0001).Overall survival at 1 month was 79.5% (95% CI 68.7-90.3). Oxygen-support requirements improved and overall mortality was 13.6%. Confirmation of the efficacy of canakinumab for Covid-19 warrants further study in randomized controlled trials.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage*
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • COVID-19* / mortality
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen / administration & dosage
  • Prospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • IL1B protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • canakinumab
  • Oxygen