A mechanistic view of four compounds that disrupt interleukin pathways to treat severe COVID-19

Master protocols for COVID-19 clinical trials are testing half a dozen molecules that aim to prevent respiratory distress in patients with severe disease by targeting the host immune system -- four of these compounds intervene in interleukin signaling pathways.

Kineret anakinra, Olumiant baricitinib, Actemra tocilizumab and Kevzara sarilumab are all anti-inflammatory agents approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis. The rationale behind using them to treat COVID-19 stems from another feature they have in common -- they all impinge on interleukin signaling in one way or another...