A retrospective cohort study published in The Lancet Rheumatology on May 7^th has reported that intravenous administration of high-dose anakinra, a recombinant interleukin-1 receptor agonist, on patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is the main cause of death for COVID-19 patients as it leads to respiratory failure, was “safe and associated with clinical improvement in 72% of the patients”. Since current pandemic outbreak conditions mean patient numbers can far exceed ICU capacities, interleukin-1 blockade treatment via anakinra, on top of standard care and non-invasive ventilation, might help address such clinical and capacity-related problems.

The study reports a cumulative survival rate of 90% in the group treated with high dose anakinra, standard treatment and non-invasive ventilation compared to 56% in the group that only received the standard treatment and non-invasive ventilation after 21 days. While this study has several limitations regarding the patient population, long-term outcomes and need for extensive follow-up in order to achieve more definitive conclusions, the study is clearly promising.