Patient description: The patient is a 15-year-old boy with asthma diagnosed a year ago. He presents with shortness of breath, chest tightening and cough. According to his mother, he didn't respond to the usual corticosteroid inhaler. He was admitted to the emergency department with diagnosis of severe asthma exacerbation. He is a candidate for general corticosteroid therapy. Spirometry revealed a forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) of 60% of the predicted. His past medical history is non-significant. His family history is significant for asthma in his mother and his uncle. He used to be treated with combination of inhaled corticosteroids and Zafirlukast.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-999.0,  Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome for Part 1 Participants aged >=18 years and <=79 years at the time of obtaining informed consent Participants must: 1. have positive severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) result (any validated test, for example. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] [performed on an appropriate specimen; for example: respiratory tract sample]) 2. and be hospitalized due to diagnosis of pneumonia (chest X-ray or computerized tomography [CT] scan consistent with COVID-19) 3. and be developing new onset of oxygenation impairment requiring any of the following: 1. high-flow oxygen (>=15L/min) 2. non-invasive ventilation (for example. CPAP, BIPAP) 3. mechanical ventilation <=48 hours prior to dose 4. and have increased biological markers of systemic inflammation (either C-reactive protein [CRP] >upper limit of normal [ULN] or serum ferritin >ULN) No gender restriction Female participants must meet and agree to abide by the contraceptive detailed in the protocol. Contraceptive use by women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding or if she is using highly effective contraceptive methods. Women of non-childbearing potential can also participate. A negative highly sensitive pregnancy test at hospital admission or before the first dose of study intervention Capable of giving written informed consent. for Part 2 Participants aged 70 years or above at the time of obtaining informed consent Participants must: 1. have positive SARS-CoV-2 result (any validated test, for example. RT-PCR [performed on an appropriate specimen; for example. respiratory tract sample]) 2. and be hospitalized due to diagnosis of pneumonia (chest X-ray or CT scan consistent with COVID-19). 3. and be developing new onset of oxygenation impairment requiring any of the following: 1. high-flow oxygen (>=15L/min) 2. non-invasive ventilation (for example. CPAP, BiPAP) 3. mechanical ventilation <=48 hours prior to dose 4. and have increased biological markers of systemic inflammation (either CRP >ULN or serum ferritin >ULN No gender restriction  for Part 1 Progression to death is imminent and inevitable within the next 48 hours, irrespective of the provision of treatments, in the opinion of the investigator Multiple organ failure according to the investigator's judgement or a Sequential Organ Failure assessment (SOFA score) >10 if in the ICU Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) hemofiltration/dialysis or high-dose (>0.15 micrograms [mcg]/kilograms [kg]/min) noradrenaline (or equivalent) or more than one vasopressor Current serious or uncontrolled medical condition (for example: significant pulmonary disease [such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis], heart failure [New York Heart Association {NYHA} class III or higher], renal dysfunction, acute myocardial infarction or acute cerebrovascular accident within the last 3 months) or abnormality of clinical laboratory tests that, in the investigator's judgment, precludes the participant's safe participation in and completion of the study Untreated systemic bacterial, fungal, viral, or other infection (other than SARS-CoV-2) Known active tuberculosis (TB), history of untreated or incompletely treated active or latent TB, suspected or known extrapulmonary TB Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) regardless of immunological status Known hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive Currently receiving radiotherapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy for malignancy