An Anti-CD6 Monoclonal Antibody (Itolizumab) Reduces Circulating IL-6 in Severe Covid-19 Elderly Patients

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold>: Since the COVID-19 outbreak an unprecedented challenge for healthcare systems around the world has been placed. In Cuba, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 11. Elderly with multiple comorbidities have been the most risky population. Although most patients present a mild to moderate disease, some have developed severe symptoms. One of the possible mechanisms underlying rapid disease progression is a cytokine storm, in which interleukin (IL) -6 seems to be a major mediator. Itolizumabis a humanized recombinant anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody(MAb), with the ability of reducingserum interferon gamma(INF-γ), tumournecrosis factor alpha(TNFα) and IL-6. Based on these previous results in patients with psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, an expanded access clinical trial was approved by the Cuban regulatory agency for COVID-19 critically, severely and moderately ill patients. <bold>Results</bold>: We show here a short kinetic of IL-6 serum concentration in the first 24 COVID-19 patients treated with itolizumab. Most of patients were elderly with multiple comorbidities.We found that with one itolizumabdose, the circulating IL-6 decreased in critically and severely ill patients, whereas in moderately ill patients the values didn’trise as compared to theirlow baseline levels.<bold>Conclusion</bold>: These findings suggest that itolizumabcould be an attractive therapeutic option to decrease the negative outcome of the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients.<italic>Trial registration: CECMED IIC RD-EC 179, RPCEC00000311. Registered 4May 2020 - Retrospectively registered, </italic><italic>http://rpcec.sld.cu/ensayos/RPCEC00000311-Sp</italic><italic> or </italic><italic>http://rpcec.sld.cu/trials/RPCEC00000311-En</italic>