Experience of olokizumab use in COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Most subjects with the COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms, but approximately 10% of cases suffer from severe course of disease. IL-6 inhibitors are actively used to neutralize and prevent the cytokine storm. Olokizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody belonging to the G4/Kappa immunoglobulin isotype that selectively binds to human IL-6 and effectively neutralizes it.
 Aim.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Artlegia (olokizumab) for the treatment of subjects with a disease caused by the SARS-COV-2 virus in a real-world clinical setting.
 Materials and methods.The analysis included data of 610 subjects aged 55.0812.68 years who received olokizumab at a single dose of 160 mg/mL 0.4 mL subcutaneously as a preemptive anti-inflammatory therapy. The comparison group included 511 subjects aged 55.2311.23 years who received standard therapy without IL-6 inhibitors. Control Endpoints: 1. Positive clinical changes on Day 7. 2. Changes in the CRP levels on Days 1, 2, and 7. 3. Duration of oxygen therapy. 4. Number of days in hospital. 5. Number of adverse events. 6. Disease outcome.
 Results.If a cytokine storm occurs, immune regulatory events will trigger the development of either a protective immune response or an exacerbated inflammatory response. The use of preemptive anti-inflammatory therapy has both a short-term and, most importantly, a long-term effect on the T and B parts of the immune process. These aspects definitely require further research and observation.
 Conclusion.The use of olokizumab to treat the new COVID-19 coronavirus disease has demonstrated a positive effect on clinical and laboratory parameters. Primarily, it affects the severity of clinical parameters by improving the general condition already on the first day of observation, and decreasing body temperature to normal values. The changes in the C-reactive protein levels show a significant effect of the IL-6 inhibitor on the systemic inflammatory response.

An updated overview of recent advances, challenges, and clinical considerations of IL-6 signaling blockade in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

“…al used Olokizumab on 610 COVID-19 patients with the 160 mg/ml subcutaneous dose. They showed that Olokizumab improved general condition from the first day, decreased the temperature to normal, and prevented the progression of the disease to severe mode (162) . In an ongoing clinical trial NCT04452474, they are using single-dose 64 mg of Olokizumab at day 29 in patients with severe COVID-19.…”

Interleukin 6 Inhibition in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Highlight on Olokizumab

“…As IL-6 is of fundamental importance in the development of COVID-19-associated hyperinflammatory syndrome, 125,126 IL-6 inhibitors are currently recommended for the treatment of this complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in selected cases. 127 Some data are available on the efficacy of olokizumab in patients with severe COVID-19; 128,129 these are similar to data for tocilizumab. 129…”

Pathogenetic Therapy of Cytokine Storm in CОVID-19

“…В исследовании сравнили группу пациентов, получивших олокизумаб (n=610), и группу сравнения (n=511) -пациентов, получавших стандартную терапию без применения ингибиторов ИЛ-6. Применение олокизумаба продемонстрировало положительное влияние на выраженность клинических (улучшение общего состояния уже в первые сутки наблюдения, снижение температуры тела до нормальных значений) и лабораторных показателей (динамика С-реактивного белка показывает значимое влияние ингибитора ИЛ-6 на системную воспалительную реакцию) [11].…”