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Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System
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Cell therapy strategies for COVID-19: Current approaches and potential applications

Mark M Zaki1,2, Emal Lesha1,3, Khaled Said4

  • 1GC Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Science Advances
|August 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Severe COVID-19 requires better treatments beyond current options. Cell therapies show promise for managing severe COVID-19 and its long-term effects, with 89 trials underway.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Virology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents a global health challenge.
  • Severe COVID-19 cases exhibit multi-organ involvement and limited therapeutic options.
  • Existing treatments lack specificity and do not address long-term sequelae like organ damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review COVID-19 pathogenesis and its systemic effects.
  • To identify potential applications of cell therapies in severe COVID-19.
  • To summarize the landscape of ongoing cell therapy clinical trials for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of cell therapy mechanisms and potential benefits.
  • Compilation and summary of registered clinical trials for COVID-19 cell therapies.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 impacts multiple organ systems beyond the lungs.
  • Cell therapies offer customizable and regenerative approaches for severe disease.
  • As of January 1, 2021, 89 cell therapy trials for COVID-19 were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Cell therapies represent a promising therapeutic strategy for severe COVID-19.
  • Further research and clinical trials are crucial to establish efficacy.
  • Addressing long-term consequences of COVID-19 is a key area for cell therapy intervention.

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