Summary of COVID-19 interleukin-2 studies

1. Zhu et al., Recombinant interleukin-2 stimulates lymphocyte recovery in patients with severe COVID-19

64 patient interleukin-2 late treatment PSM study: 4% longer hospitalization (p=0.78).
PSM retrospective 59 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 showing that recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL-2) treatment significantly increased lymphocyte counts. There were no significant differences in C-reactive protein or IL-6 levels between groups, or in hospital length of stay.
Jan 2021, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, http://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/etm.2021.9658, https://c19p.org/zhu12

2. Pimenta Bonifácio et al., Efficacy and safety of Ixekizumab vs. low-dose IL-2 vs. Colchicine vs. standard of care in the treatment of patients hospitalized with moderate-to-critical COVID-19: A pilot randomized clinical trial (STRUCK: Survival Trial Using Cytokine Inhibitors)

30 patient interleukin-2 late treatment RCT: 71% higher mortality (p=0.64) and 90% worse improvement (p=0.42).
Open label RCT late stage hospitalized patients in Brazil showing no significant difference with IL-2 or ixekizumab treatment. Mortality was lower and recovery was greater with colchicine, without statistical significance.
Apr 2022, Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822023000100317&tlng=en, https://c19p.org/pimentabonifacio2