Nimotuzumab for COVID-19: case series.
Anselmo Antonio Abdo-CuzaJonathan Pi ÁvilaRafael Machado MartínezJosé Jordán GonzálezGuillermo Pérez AspuroJuan A Gutiérrez MartínezMayra Ramos SuzarteDanay Saavedra HernándezAna L Añé-KouriTania Crombet RamosPublished in: Immunotherapy (2021)
Background: In COVID-19, EGFR production is upregulated in the alveolar epithelial cells. EGFR overexpression further activates STAT-3 and increases lung pathology. The EGFR pathway is also one of the major nodes in pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: Nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-EGFR antibody, was used to treat three patients with severe or moderate COVID-19. The antibody was administered in combination with other drugs included in the national COVID-19 protocol. Results: Nimotuzumab was well tolerated. IL-6 decreased from the first antibody infusion. Clinical symptoms significantly improved after nimotuzumab administration, and the CT scans at discharge showed major resolution of the lung lesions and no signs of fibrosis. Conclusion: Safe anti-EGFR antibodies like nimotuzumab may modulate COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation and prevent fibrosis. Clinical Trial Registration: RPCEC00000369 (RPCEC rpcec.sld.cu).
Keyphrases
- low dose
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- small cell lung cancer
- epidermal growth factor receptor
- tyrosine kinase
- clinical trial
- computed tomography
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- cell proliferation
- pulmonary fibrosis
- magnetic resonance imaging
- randomized controlled trial
- magnetic resonance
- depressive symptoms
- transcription factor
- early stage
- study protocol
- dual energy
- neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- image quality
- open label
- high intensity
- single molecule
- drug induced
- pet ct