A small study involving eight patients in Greece found that the clinically approved anti-inflammatory drug anakinra, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, improved respiratory function in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
All the patients showed improved respiratory function after taking the drug, as well as better blood pressure levels. Although three of the ICU patients died, previous studies have shown that COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and pneumonia have death rates as high as 67%.
Source: Newswise May 14, 2020