Repurposing hypertension drugs to block cytokine release syndrome

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers showed that hypertension drug Demser metyrosine and an endogenous peptide in testing for hypertension could prevent cytokine release syndrome, a toxicity associated with immunotherapies, without compromising efficacy.

Cytokine release syndrome can result from bacterial infections, bacterial cancer treatments and therapies that increase immune response such as CAR T cell therapies. The toxicity can lead to cardiovascular damage, organ failure and death...