Clinical Trial for ARDS in COVID-19 Patients

UH Research & Education Update | July 2020

Olivia Giddings, MD

By Caitlin Tucker, Clinical Research Nurse Specialists

Olivia Giddings, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist, and Clinical Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, teamed up with the UH Clinical Research Center to make her debut as Principal Investigator (PI) for COVID-19 clinical trials. Sponsored by Kinevant Sciences GmbH, Dr. Giddings and co-PIs, Drs. Rana Hejal and Mada Helou, will study the effects and safety of an investigational drug, Gimsilumab, in patients with lung injury or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) secondary to COVID-19.

The placebo-controlled study is a potential treatment option for patients in the COVID-19 ICU who have lung injury or ARDS. Patients will be administered Gimsilumab or placebo on Days 1 and 8. Gimsilumab is an anti-GM-CSF antibody, used to target Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a key driver of cytokine storm and lung hyper-inflammation. The team will evaluate the effects of Gimsilumab on mortality, ventilation requirements, and overall duration of hospitalization in this population of subjects with COVID-19.

Dr. Giddings has an excellent relationship with the COVID-19 ICU attending physicians, and her effective communication and hands-on approach are vital to patient recruitment. University Hospitals has enrolled one subject on this trial to date and continues enrollment efforts as the study is approximately halfway to the nationwide enrollment goal.

For more information contact Caitlin Tucker at Caitlin.Tucker@UHhospitals.org.