Treatment of COVID-19 patients with the anti-CD6 antibody itolizumab.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 can lead to a hyperinflammatory state. CD6 is a glycoprotein expressed on mature T lymphocytes which is a crucial regulator of the T-cell activation. Itolizumab is a humanised antibody targeting CD6. Nonclinical and clinical data in autoimmune diseases indicate that it lowers multiple cytokines primarily involving the Th1/Th17 pathway. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of itolizumab in arresting the lung function deterioration of COVID-19 patients. Secondary objectives included safety, duration of ventilation, 14-day mortality and evaluation of interleukin 6 concentration. METHODS: Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 received itolizumab in combination with other therapies included in the national protocol for COVID-19. RESULTS: Seventy critical, severe or moderate patients were treated with itolizumab in 10 Cuban hospitals. Median age was 68, and 94% had comorbidities. After 72 h, most patients improved the PO2/FiO2 ratio and reduced FiO2 requirements. Ventilation time was 8 days for critical and 1 day for severe cases. Ten patients had related adverse events while 3 subjects developed related serious events. In 30 patients, interleukin 6 decreased in individuals with high level and did not change in those with lower concentration. Fourteen-day lethality rate was 4% and 18% for moderate and severe patients, respectively. The proportion of moderate or severe patients with ventilation or death at day 14 was 9.8%. Time to treatment, neurological manifestations and biomarkers such as NLR were significantly associated with higher lethality. CONCLUSIONS: The opportune administration of itolizumab might interrupt the hyperinflammatory cascade and prevent COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

Use of a Humanized Anti-CD6 Monoclonal Antibody (Itolizumab) in Elderly Patients with Moderate COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: 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 March 11, 2020. Elderly individuals with multiple comorbidities are particularly susceptible 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 which 19 elderly residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Based on the increased susceptibility to cytokine release syndrome, inducing respiratory and systemic complications in this population, 19 patients were included in an expanded access clinical trial to receive itolizumab, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: All patients had underlying medical conditions. The product was well tolerated. After the first dose, the course of the disease was favorable, and 18 of the 19 patients (94.7%) were discharged clinically recovered with negative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results at 13 days. After one dose of itolizumab, circulating IL-6 decreased within the first 24-48 h in patients with high baseline values, whereas in patients with low levels, this concentration remained over low values. To preliminarily assess the effect of itolizumab, a control group was selected among the Cuban COVID-19 patients that did not receive immunomodulatory therapy. The control subjects were well matched regarding age, comorbidities, and severity of the disease. The percentage of itolizumab-treated, moderately ill patients who needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit was only one-third of that of the control group not treated with itolizumab. Additionally, treatment with itolizumab reduced the risk of death 10 times as compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates that the timely use of itolizumab in combination with other antivirals reduces COVID-19 disease worsening and mortality. The humanized antibody itolizumab emerges as a therapeutic alternative for patients with COVID-19. Our results suggest the possible use of itolizumab in patients with cytokine release syndrome from other pathologies.

Seguridad del Racotumomab en el tratamiento de pacientes con cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas / Safety of Racotumomab in the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

En Cuba, el cáncer de pulmón es el segundo en incidencia y el primero en mortalidad. Por tanto, se necesita identificar nuevas opciones terapéuticas. Los enfoques inmunológicos son interesantes debido al potencial de actividad sin las toxicidades de la quimioterapia convencional. El Centro de Inmunología Molecular generó una vacuna denominada Racotumomab, la cual actúa sobre el carcinoma pulmonar, aumentando la apoptosis tumoral y disminuyendo la cantidad de vasos tumorales. Para evaluar su seguridad se realizó un estudio de acceso expandido, multicéntrico y abierto en 86 pacientes con cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas. La dosis administrada fue de 1 mg/mL por vía intradérmica. Las cinco primeras dosis se administraron cada 14 días y las restantes 10 cada 28 días, hasta completar el año de tratamiento. Las reinmunizaciones durante el seguimiento fueron cada 28 días. Se analizó la aparición de los eventos adversos y se clasificaron acorde con los criterios de la CTC v4.02. Estos se reportaron en 58 pacientes (67,4por ciento), para un total de 215 eventos; el más frecuente fue el ardor en el sitio de la inyección, 32 (14,9 por ciento). El uso de la vacuna en los pacientes estudiados evidenció buen nivel de seguridad y tolerancia(AU)

In Cuba, lung cancer ranks second in incidence and first in mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new therapeutical options. Immunological approaches are interesting because of the potential activity without the toxicities of conventional chemotherapy. The Center of Molecular Immunology developed a vaccine called Racotumomab; it acts on the lung carcinoma inducing an increase in tumor apoptosis and a decrease in the number of tumor vessels. A expanded access, multicenter, open study was conducted in 86 patients with non-small cell lung cancer in order to assess its safety. The administered dose was 1 mg/mL intradermically. The first 5 doses were administered every 14 days and the remaining 10 every 28 days until completing the treatment. The follow-up re immunizations were every 28 days. The occurrence of adverse events (AE) was analyzed and they were classified according to CTC v4.02 criteria. Adverse events were reported by 58 patients (67.4 percent, making a total of 215 events. burning at the injection site was the most frequently reported event, 32 (14.9 percent). The use of the vaccine in the patients under study showed good safety and tolerance(AU)