Novartis To Begin Phase III Clinical Trial of Autoimmune Disease Drug in COVID-19 Patients with Pneumonia
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 02 May 2020 |
Image: Ilaris 150 Mg Injection (Photo courtesy of Novartis).
Novartis (Basel, Switzerland) will initiate a Phase III clinical trial to examine the efficacy of utilizing canakinumab, an interleukin (IL)-1β blocker, to treat a type of severe immune overreaction called cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in people with COVID-19 pneumonia.
The study builds on early evidence from lab tests of COVID-19 patients who showed elevated IL-1β levels, among other cytokines. For the CAN-COVID trial, Novartis aims to rapidly enroll 450 patients at multiple medical centers across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and US and randomize them to receive either canakinumab or placebo on top of standard of care (SoC).
The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the benefit of canakinumab in combination with SoC in increasing the chance of survival without the need for invasive mechanical ventilation among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Top-line results are anticipated late summer 2020.
Related Links:
Novartis
The study builds on early evidence from lab tests of COVID-19 patients who showed elevated IL-1β levels, among other cytokines. For the CAN-COVID trial, Novartis aims to rapidly enroll 450 patients at multiple medical centers across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and US and randomize them to receive either canakinumab or placebo on top of standard of care (SoC).
The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate the benefit of canakinumab in combination with SoC in increasing the chance of survival without the need for invasive mechanical ventilation among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Top-line results are anticipated late summer 2020.
Related Links:
Novartis
Latest COVID-19 News
- Low-Cost System Detects SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Hospital Air Using High-Tech Bubbles
- World's First Inhalable COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in China
- COVID-19 Vaccine Patch Fights SARS-CoV-2 Variants Better than Needles
- Blood Viscosity Testing Can Predict Risk of Death in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- ‘Covid Computer’ Uses AI to Detect COVID-19 from Chest CT Scans
- MRI Lung-Imaging Technique Shows Cause of Long-COVID Symptoms
- Chest CT Scans of COVID-19 Patients Could Help Distinguish Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants
- Specialized MRI Detects Lung Abnormalities in Non-Hospitalized Long COVID Patients
- AI Algorithm Identifies Hospitalized Patients at Highest Risk of Dying From COVID-19
- Sweat Sensor Detects Key Biomarkers That Provide Early Warning of COVID-19 and Flu
- Study Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Ventilation/Perfusion Scintigraphy
- CT Imaging Study Finds Vaccination Reduces Risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Embolism
- Third Day in Hospital a ‘Tipping Point’ in Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia
- Longer Interval Between COVID-19 Vaccines Generates Up to Nine Times as Many Antibodies
- AI Model for Monitoring COVID-19 Predicts Mortality Within First 30 Days of Admission
- AI Predicts COVID Prognosis at Near-Expert Level Based Off CT Scans