Use of a humanized Anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody in elderly patients with moderate COVID-19

Use of a humanized Anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody in elderly patients with moderate COVID-19

1. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In Cuba, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on March11,2020.

2. Erderly individuals with multiple comorbilities are particularly sesceptible to adverse clinical outcomes in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the outbreak, a local transmission event took place in a nursing home in Villa Clara province, Cuba in whitch 19 elderly residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

3. 19 patients were included in an expanded access clinical trial to receive itolizumab, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody.

4. To preeliminary assess the effect of itolizumab, a control group was selected among the Cuba COVID-19 patients that did not receive immunomodulatory therapy. The control subjects were well matched regarding age, comorbilities, and severity of the sisease.

5. Additionally, treatment with itolizumab reduced the risk of death 10 times as compared with the control group.

6. This study corroborates that the timely use of itolizumab in combination with other antivirals reduces COVID-19 disease worsening and mortality.