Interferon lambda as a potential treatment for COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Pegylated interferon lambda substantially reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalizations or emergency room visits in a recent phase 3, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of high-risk, non-hospitalized adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to treatment with placebo.

Areas covered

Interferons are a family of signaling molecules produced as part of the innate immune response to viral infections. The administration of exogenous interferon may limit disease progression in patients with COVID-19.

Expert opinion

Interferons have been used to treat viral infections, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and malignancies such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis. This manuscript examines what is known about the role of interferon lambda in the treatment of COVID-19, including potential limitations, and explores how this approach may be used in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Interferons
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• type III interferons
• antiviral
• cytokines

Article highlights

• Interferons are a family of signaling molecules produced by host cells as part of the innate immune system.

• Interferons have been used to treat viral infections, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and malignancies such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, as well as the autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis.

• Polyethylene glycols are biologically inert molecules that can be linked to naturally occurring and synthetically-derived macromolecules such as interferon-lambda to reduce their degradation without compromising their biological activity.

• Interferon-lambda potently inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in primary human airway epithelial cells in vitro and diminishes viral replication in mice.

• Recent studies suggest that interferon-lambda may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with COVID-19

Declaration of interest

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

A reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed that they were involved in the INF lambda trial NCT04331899. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.