Fase I Clinical Trial on Natural Killer Cells for COVID-19

In March 2020, the World Health Organization secreted COVID-19 as a pandemic. Although most infected individuals can develop effective immunity, the population at risk (elderly, obese and individual with comorbidities) develop a rapid and frequently fatal disease, with severe acute respiratory syndrome, cytokine storm and coagulopathies; for those who recover, severe pulmonary sequels are frequently observed. We propose a phase I clinical trial to test safety and feasibility of NK cells adoptive immunotherapy for COVID-19. Natural Killer cells are innate granular lymphocytes able to rapidly recognize and kill, without previous exposition, altered cells; it is widely recognized as immune effectors specialized in lysing virus infected cells releasing antigens and activating cytokines to antigen presenting cells and, by doing so, stimulating effective adaptive immunity. We hypothesize that the early infusion of highly activated NK cells will activate adaptive immune effectors preventing the severe clinical evolution of COVID-19 infection. Adoptive NK cell immunotherapy for severe virus infections is innovative. Our proposition is in line with the Brazilian Public Health system purposes, which is to offer secure and effective therapies for all COVID-19 infected individuals. Upon proving NK cell immunotherapy effectiveness for serious virus infections, we can evolve to test this strategy for common viruses that cause epidemics and endemics such as the ones caused by Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, C and B hepatitis and HIV.