A Pilot Trial of Thymalfasin (Thymosin-alpha-1) to Treat Hospitalized Patients With Hypoxemia and Lymphocytopenia Due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection
Shehadeh F, Benitez G, Mylona EK, et al. (2023). The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Summary
A small open-label trial in 49 hospitalised COVID-19 patients with low oxygen and low lymphocyte counts, comparing thymalfasin, the synthetic form of thymosin alpha-1, against standard care. Clinical recovery was more frequent in the treated group but neither difference reached statistical significance. Among patients on low-flow oxygen, the treated group had a larger rise in CD4+ T cells by day five, which was significant. Nine serious adverse events in treated patients were judged unrelated to the drug. A pilot, open-label and underpowered by design.