Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 27, 2020

Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study Shows Early Interferon Therapy Is Associated with Favorable Clinical Responses in COVID-19 Patients

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  • Based on a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients in Hubei, China (n=446), early administration of interferon-a2b was associated with lower likelihood of in-hospital mortality versus no interferon (OR=0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.37), while late interferon therapy was associated with greater likelihood of mortality (OR=6.82, 95% CI: 1.14-40.8). This may indicate that the timing for interferon therapy may be important. Most of the patients in the study who received interferon also received the antiviral agents umifenovir or lopinavir boosted with ritonavir. 

Wang et al. (July 18, 2020). Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study Shows Early Interferon Therapy Is Associated with Favorable Clinical Responses in COVID-19 Patients. Cell Host & Microbe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2020.07.005