Safety and Effectiveness of an Immunobiological Drug in CoViD-19

The aims of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of a passive immunotherapy strategy using hyperimmune equine serum known as Anti-SARS-CoV-2 elaborated by the National Institute for the Production of Biologicals (ANLIS-Malbrán) as an addition to the standard therapeutic approach for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection aged 18 to 80 years.

This is an adaptive phase II/III study that aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of a immunobiological drug (Anti SARS-CoV-2) in the treatment of CoViD-19. This treatment is a passive immunotherapy strategy developed as a purified F(ab')2 fraction of equine hyperimmune serum (Anti-SARS-CoV-2). The equine serum was generated from antigenic stimulation with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) purified protein.

This type of product (equine hyperimmune serum F(ab')2) has been widely used in our country in the last 100 years with satisfactory results and an acceptable safety profile in the treatment of accidents with poisonous animals such as anti-loxosceles, anti -latrodectus, anti-scorpionic, and anti-phoneutria, anti-bothropic, anti-micrurus, and anti-crotalic sera, all developed by the National Institute of Biological Production (ANLIS-Malbrán) and distributed free of charge in public hospitals in the country .

In the present study, evaluates the effect and safety of this immunobiological treatment in patients with COVID-19 that require hospitalization.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects over 18 years old and under 80 years old.
2. Positive results by RT-PCR for SARS CoV-2
3. Clinical picture compatible with respiratory compromise in the form of pneumonia attributed to COVID-19 (Stage 3, 4 or 5 according to the WHO scale), lasting up to 72 hours from the onset of symptoms to their evaluation to be incorporated into the study.
4. Patient with good disposition towards the study and that signs the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with clinical disease corresponding to mild / asymptomatic forms (Absence of radiological infiltrate and risk factors, with normal auscultation and arterial saturation of oxygen (SatO2) greater than 95%)
2. Patients with clinical disease corresponding to severe forms (Severe pneumonia: presence of severity criteria (ATS / IDSA), one of two major or three minor criteria.)
3. Patients who have received other therapeutic strategies in the framework of an experimental study that make it difficult to evaluate the results obtained, including (but not limited to): convalescent plasma, lopinavir / ritonavir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin.
4. Pregnant or lactating women.
5. Women of childbearing potential not using an effective contraceptive method (withdrawal, intrauterine device, or oral contraceptives).
6. History of severe anaphylactic reaction with the administration of equine plasma.
7. Patients with comorbidities that justify a risk of high mortality from causes independent of SARS-CoV-2 infection (eg, stage IV cancer)
8. Patient who does not consent to participate.