Blocking EGFR with nimotuzumab: a novel strategy for COVID-19 treatment.
Henrry Diaz LondresJorge Jiménez ArmadaAray Hernández MartínezAnselmo Antonio Abdo-CuzaYamilka Hernández SánchezAylin Granado RodríguezSarahy Sepúlveda FigueroaEgda M Llanez GregorichMery L Torres LaheraFrancisco Gómez PeireTeresita Montero GonzálezYaneth Zamora GonzálezAna Laura Añé-KouríAddys González PalomoMayelin Troche ConcepciónLoipa Medel PérezPatricia Lorenzo Luaces-AlvarezDaymys Estévez IglesiasDanay Saavedra HernándezMayra Ramos SuzarteTania Crombet RamosPublished in: Immunotherapy (2022)
Background: Lung injury and STAT1 deficit induce EGFR overexpression in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients & methods: A phase I/II trial was done to evaluate the safety and preliminary effect of nimotuzumab, an anti-EGFR antibody, in COVID-19 patients. Patients received from one to three infusions together with other drugs included in the national guideline. Results: 41 patients (31 severe and 10 moderate) received nimotuzumab. The median age was 62 years and the main comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The antibody was very safe and the 14-day recovery rate was 82.9%. Inflammatory markers decreased over time. Patients did not show signs of fibrosis. Conclusion: Nimotuzumab is a safe antibody that might reduce inflammation and prevent fibrosis in severe and moderate COVID-19 patients. Clinical Trial Registration: RPCEC00000369 (rpcec.sld.cu).
Keyphrases
- end stage renal disease
- cardiovascular disease
- clinical trial
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- chronic kidney disease
- small cell lung cancer
- type diabetes
- prognostic factors
- peritoneal dialysis
- blood pressure
- coronavirus disease
- oxidative stress
- tyrosine kinase
- cell proliferation
- metabolic syndrome
- skeletal muscle
- phase iii
- early onset
- patient reported
- cardiovascular risk factors
- arterial hypertension