The Biomedical Technology Research Center of the Russian Federal Medical and Biology Agency are in clinical trials, using leitragin to stop the chain reaction of the uncontrolled immune response, dubbed the cytokine storm, that kills Covid patients. Cytokines are tiny messenger proteins for dealing with infections, inflammations and trauma. Multiple cytokines have been known to show up in the infamous cytokine storm. Now, scientists have pinned down one particular late-phase cytokine type, called the “high mobility group box 1 protein” (HMGB1 protein), that sets off all the rest.
Leitragin is being tested on humanized mice, in particular to master the sensitive timing of the application. They have to avoid an over-disruption of the immune system, which, if it comes at the wrong time, could make things worse. Leitragin is now being used on an emergency basis with 300 human volunteers in moderate to critical condition. So far there are no intensive care admissions or deaths, and they show quicker recoveries.
