Canakinumab in Patients With COVID-19 and Type 2 Diabetes

Patients with a metabolic syndrome (overweight, diabetes, hypertension) have a particularly bad outcome if infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). This may be explained by an over-activation of the Interleukin-1 (IL-1) beta system. Metabolic stress (increased glucose and lipid levels) induces NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) -mediated IL-1beta secretion. SARS-CoV2 also activates NLRP3. Therefore, the study proposes that metabolic stress in patients with overweight and diabetes potentiates COVID-19 induced hyperinflammatory syndrome leading to excess mortality in these vulnerable patients. Canakinumab (Ilaris®) is a recombinant, human monoclonal antibody antagonizing IL-1beta by blocking IL-1beta activity. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of canakinumab in type 2 diabetic patients with COVID-19.