Nature Medicine Publication: Anakinra Early Treatment for COVID-19 Guided by suPAR Saves Lives
Highlights of the study
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Significant prevention of death (6.9% vs. 3.2%)
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Significant prevention of progression to severe respiratory failure (31.7% against 20.7%)
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Significant increase in the number of patients discharged with no evidence of COVID-19 infection on day 28 (26.5% vs. 50.4%)
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Significant reduction in median length of stay in intensive care and emergency room (14 vs. 10 days, 12 vs. 11 days, respectively)
Method
From December 23, 2020 to March 31, 2021, 1,060 patients diagnosed positively with Covid-19 were screened and 594 (excluding those at low risk based on low suPAR results) were randomized to 37 study sites. The SAVE-MORE study, conducted by the Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis, is the first large pivotal randomized controlled trial to specifically assess a population of screened patients, when they are at risk of progressing to critical condition at the help from suPARnostic®. The study demonstrates the considerable benefit of early intervention for the prevention of disease progression and death.
189 patients were assigned to the placebo arm and 405 patients were assigned to the anakinra arm. Baseline characteristics and co-administered treatments were similar between the two treatment arms. Overall, 91.6% of patients suffered from severe pneumonia as defined by the WHO classification for COVID-19. On day 28, the adjusted proportional probability of having a worse clinical condition with anakinra, compared to placebo, was 0.36. The 28-day mortality was reduced and the hospital stay was shorter.
European Medicines Agency approval
Kineret treatment measured by suPAR is approved across the EU for COVID-19 in adult patients with pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen, who are at risk of developing severe respiratory failure.
Administration of the treatment protocol is determined by measuring suPAR levels, which should be at least 6 ng / mL prior to initiation.
Kineret is an immunosuppressive drug. It is currently authorized in the EU for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions. In patients with COVID-19, the drug is believed to reduce the inflammation associated with COVID-19 and thereby decrease damage to the lower respiratory tract, thus preventing the development of severe respiratory failure.
Learn more: Kineret | European Medicines Agency (europa.eu)
Warning
ViroGates A / S published this content on January 11, 2022 and is solely responsible for the information it contains. Distributed by Public, unedited and unmodified, on January 11, 2022 11:37:00 AM UTC.
