Inhibition of SARS‐CoV‐2 replication using calcineurin inhibitors: are concentrations required clinically achievable?

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the added benefit of cyclosporine A (CsA) to steroids in the treatment of life-threatening COVID-19, according to the two pathological mechanisms that appear to coexist in severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, the first triggered by the virus itself and the second by the hostimmune response. The study is a nonrandomized observational investigation with 209 hospitalized patients with COVID 19, showing better outcomes in patients treated with CsA plus steroids, compared to patients treated with steroids alone. Furthermore, a significantly lower death rate across all grades of severity was observed, even more marked in those with moderate-to-severe lung injury.