InterLeukin-7 (CYT107) to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Lymphopenic pAtients With COVID-19 Infection UK Cohort

Comparison of the effects of CYT107 vs Placebo administered IM at 10µg/kg twice a week for two weeks on immune reconstitution of lymphopenic COVID-19 patients.

Approximately forty-eight (48) participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive (a) Intramuscular (IM) administration of CYT107 at 3 μg/kg followed, after 48hrs of observation, by 10 μg/kg twice a week for 2 weeks or (b) Intramuscular (IM) placebo (normal saline) at the same frequency. An interim safety review will take place after the first 12 patients. If the CYT107 is well tolerated, the test dose (3 μg/kg) will cease and that initial dose will become the same as the rest of the doses (10 μg/kg). So, the remaining patients will be randomized to receive 5 administrations of (a) CYT107 at 10 μg/kg every 3 to 4 days for 2 weeks or (b) Intramuscular (IM) placebo (normal saline) at the same frequency.

The aim of the study is to test the ability of CYT107 to produce an immune reconstitution of these patients and observe possible association with a clinical improvement

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* A written, signed informed consent, or emergency oral consent, by the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative, and the anticipated ability for participant to be re-consented in the future for ongoing Study participation
* Men and women aged ≥ 25 - 80 (included) years of age
* Hospitalized patients with one absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≤ 1000 cells/mm3, collected at baseline or no more than 72h before baseline
* Hospitalized patients with moderate to severe hypoxemia requiring oxygen therapy at \>2L per minute nasal cannula or greater to keep saturations \>90%, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (e.g., BIPAP), or patients intubated/ventilated for respiratory failure
* Confirmed infection with COVID-19 by any acceptable test available/utilized at each site
* Private insurance or government support (through NHS or other)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy or breast feeding;
* Refusal or inability to practice contraception regardless of the gender of the patient;
* ALT and/or AST \> 5 x ULN
* Known, active auto-immune disease;
* Ongoing cancer treatment with chemotherapy / immunotherapy or any cancer therapy within last 3 months and/or ongoing;
* Patients with past history of Solid Organ transplant.
* Active tuberculosis, uncontrolled active HBV or HCV infection, HIV with positive viral load.
* Patients whose respiratory condition is showing significant deterioration as indicated by:
* requirement for a persistent and sustained increase in inspired oxygen concentrations of 20% or more over the past 24 hours to maintain SpO2 at greater than or equal to 88% (this 20 % limit does not apply to O2 delivered by nasal canula)
* or need for invasive mechanical ventilation
* Patients with chronic kidney dialysis
* Patients showing an increase of the NEWS2 score by more than 6 points during the screening / baseline period (48 to 72 hrs prior to first administration)
* Patients with a SOFA score ≥ 9 at baseline
* Patients with a BMI \> 40
* Patients with baseline Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale ≥ 6.(assessed as patient or proxy 4-week recall of chronic health and frailty status prior to COVID infection)
* Patients under guardianship