
Nimotuzumab for COVID-19: case series
Author(s) -
Anselmo Abdo-Cuza,
Jonathan Pi Ávila,
Rafael Machado Martínez,
José Jordán Gónzalez,
Guillermo Pérez Aspuro,
Juan A Gutiérrez Martínez,
Mayra Ramos-Suzarte,
Danay Saavedra,
Ana Laura Añé-Kourí,
Tania Crombet Ramos
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
immunotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.127
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1750-7448
pISSN - 1750-743X
DOI - 10.2217/imt-2021-0269
Subject(s) - nimotuzumab , medicine , antibody , idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , fibrosis , covid-19 , lung , monoclonal antibody , pathology , immunology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
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: RPCEC369 (RPCEC rpcec.sld.cu).