Multiple sclerosis immunomodulatory therapies tested for effectiveness in COVID-19

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The global pandemic of COVID-19 began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Research into effective therapies has been conducted worldwide. Currently, there is no antiviral treatment and many patients develop a severe course of the disease, including severe respiratory failure. Due to similar pathomechanisms of inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and COVID-19, immunomodulatory drugs that are registered for the treatment of MS are under study in the SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical trials.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using clinicaltrials.gov, we found information related to ongoing clinical studies on potential drugs
for COVID-19 which are also used in MS therapy. The outcomes of several trials were published on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
RESULTS: There were 18 clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness and safety of interferon-β, fingolimod, or leflunomide in
COVID-19. Some trial outcomes available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov suggested an association of these drug treatments with improvements in signs and symptoms, and the disease course.
CONCLUSION: The administration of immunomodulatory drugs in COVID-19 may result in potential beneficial effects probably
associated with their anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Further research is warranted to confirm the long-term effects of immunomodulatory therapies in patients with COVID-19.