COV-AID - Project
Project
The COV-AID study is a randomized, multi-centre, interventional, open label, factorial design study that aims to investigate and compare the effect of two different interleukin (IL)-6 blocking strategies using antibodies (tocilizumab and siltuximab) alone or in combination with an IL-1 antagonist (anakinra). The short- and long-term outcome of treatment of COVID-19 patients that show signs of early cytokine release syndrome were evaluated. Patients were carefully selected to be seriously ill but not untreatable, require oxygen and have markers of cytokine storm.
A clinical trial was set up
The main purpose of this KCE-funded trial, sponsored by UZGhent in collaboration with 16 participating clinical sites, was to investigate the effect of individually or simultaneously blocking IL-6 and IL-1 in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 who show signs of an overreactive immune system.
COVID-19 patients can have a "cytokine storm"
COVID-19 is a serious viral infection of the lung which can be accompanied by an overreaction of the immune system, leading to the release of cytokines. A hallmark of this “cytokine storm” is a sustained increase of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) which has a wide range of biological effects.
Cytokine blockers can help severe COVID-19 patients
The main aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effect of two different IL-6 blocking strategies using antibodies (tocilizumab and siltuximab) alone or in combination with an IL-1 antagonist (anakinra). The short- and long-term outcome of treatment of COVID-19 patients with signs of early cytokine release syndrome were investigated.