Immune Modulator Drugs Improved Survival for People Hospitalized with COVID-19

SC CTSI collaborated with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and other CTSAProgram hubs to implement The National Institutes of Health’s ACTIV-1 Immune Modulators Clinical Trial.

June 15, 2022
Illustration of a cytokine storm response to infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Illustration of a cytokine storm response to infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.


As part of the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) public-private initiative, NIH launched the ACTIV-1 Immune Modulators clinical trial to determine if certain drugs that help minimize the effects of an overactive immune response could speed recovery and reduce deaths in adults hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19. Preliminary results from the trial showed that infliximab or abatacept did not significantly shorten time to recovery but did substantially improve clinical status and reduce deaths.

NCATS coordinated and oversaw the trial with funding from Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. More than thirty CTSA Program Hubs and the Trial Innovation Network played a key role in enrolling participants in the United States and contributing their infrastructure and expertise to the trial.  Read the news release to learn more about the preliminary results: https://go.usa.gov/xJjMk

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NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important - All publications resulting from the utilization of SC CTSI resources are required to credit the SC CTSI grant by including the NIH funding acknowledgment and must comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.