(09 Feb 2021) Anakinra- did not show a significant advantage over SOC alone

Efficacy of early anti-inflammatory treatment with high doses IV Anakinra with or without glucocorticoids in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2021.01.024

128 patients were analyzed; 63 received early AIT (30 anakinra, 33 anakinra and CG) at admission; 65 patients (44 with SOC, 21 SOC plus late rescue AIT) did not and were used as controls. After adjusting for all the unbalanced baseline covariates, early AIT reduced the hazard of mortality by 74% (adjusted HR=0.26, p<0.001). The effect was similar in patients receiving anakinra alone (adjusted HR=0.28, p=0.04) and anakinra plus GC (adjusted HR=0.33, p=0.07). Late rescue treatment did not show a significant advantage over SOC alone (adjusted HR=0.82, p=0.70). This study suggests, on a larger series of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, the potential efficacy and safety of the early use of high doses of i.v. anakinra with or without GC.