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Revolutionary Find Could Alleviate Severe COVID Organ Damage

A recent study suggests that an experimental cancer drug, eganelisib, may offer promise in mitigating the organ damage caused by severe COVID-19 infections. Published in Science Translational Medicine on July 3, the research indicates that eganelisib, which inhibits the immune system enzyme PI3K gamma known for exacerbating inflammation in cancerous tumors, could also be effective against COVID-related inflammatory damage.

While COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs, severe cases can lead to damage in multiple organs such as the heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, brain, and nervous system, contributing to the condition known as Long COVID. The PI3K gamma enzyme triggers myeloid cells, a type of white blood cell, to flood infected tissues with inflammation, which can worsen the severity of COVID-19 and other infections.

Dr. Judith Varner, senior researcher and professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), explained that while myeloid cells are essential in combating infections, an overreaction of the immune system can lead to excessive tissue damage in severe infections like COVID-19. Eganelisib demonstrated in laboratory tests the ability to prevent myeloid cells from causing damage to human tissue and infected mice by restricting their entry into tissues.

The study included sequencing of lung tissue from COVID-19 patients, revealing increased presence of myeloid cells during infection. Treatment with eganelisib appeared to mitigate this influx, suggesting a potential therapeutic role in reducing tissue damage associated with severe COVID-19 cases. Similar positive effects were observed in mice infected with MRSA, indicating broader applicability beyond COVID-19.

Unlike most approved COVID treatments that target the virus itself, eganelisib focuses on modulating the immune response to prevent harmful overreactions that lead to tissue scarring. This novel approach has not yet been approved for COVID-19 treatment, though it received fast-track designation from the FDA in 2020. Despite the bankruptcy of Infinity Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s developer, researchers remain hopeful that these findings will spur further development of PI3K gamma inhibitors for treating infectious diseases like COVID-19 and MRSA.

Dr. Varner emphasized the need for continued research funding to explore this promising therapeutic approach in various disease contexts, potentially opening new avenues in the treatment of severe infections and their associated inflammatory complications.