Evaluation of the effectiveness of antiviral therapy for coronavirus infection (COVID-19) with the inclusion of recombinant interferon alpha-2b

A prospective comparative controlled study included 100 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 coronavirus infection, randomized into two groups: the main group (MG) – 50 patients receiving interferon alpha-2b preparations, rectal suppositories 3,000,000 IU and gel for external and topical use 36,000 IU/g and standard therapy; comparison group (CG) – 50 patients who received only standard therapy. The total duration of observation was 22 days. Complex therapy of coronavirus infection with the use of interferon alpha-2b in the MG led to a faster dynamics of the reverse development of intoxication symptoms, bronchopulmonary and catarrhal syndromes. Normalization of the total score in the MG occurred faster than in the CG for 2 days (9 vs 11 days). The proportion of persons with normalization of the D-dimer content in the MG exceeded that in the CG by 12% (p > 0.05). Positive dynamics of changes in lung tissue according to the results of computed tomography in the MG was recorded 22.7% more often (p = 0.018). In the CG, 6 (12%) patients died before the end of the follow-up period, no deaths were recorded in the MG. During the entire observation period, no adverse events associated with interferon alpha-2b or other drugs included in the treatment regimen of patients with MG and CG were registered. The results obtained indicate a higher efficiency of standard COVID-19 therapy when using interferon alpha-2b, and confirm the safety of its use in combination with drugs of other groups (antiviral agents, antibiotics, anticoagulants), which makes it possible to recommend it for inclusion in standard treatment regimens for patients with a new coronavirus infection.

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