Repurposing of Mycobacterium indicus pranii for the severe form of COVID-19 patients in India: A cohort study

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which results in a cytokine storm, and immune-modulators like Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) might ameliorate coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) related cytokine storm. Therefore, the present study evaluates whether MIP offers an advantage in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. A prospective MIP cohort study was conducted in chest disease hospitals in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the present prospective, randomized clinical study, critically severe COVID-19 patients were divided into two groups, the MIP group (n = 105) and the best standard treatment (BST) group (n = 210). Procalcitonin, ferritin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, D-dimer levels, and interleukin levels on 5th-day posttreatment were significantly reduced in the MIP group compared to the BST group. Compared to the BST group, 105 consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 in the MIP group reported early weaning off ventilation, resolution of chest architecture (computed tomography [CT] scan), a significant increase in SpO2 levels, and decreased mortality with a hazard ratio: 0.234 (95% confidence interval: 0.264–2.31) (p = 0.001). MIP restored SpO2, immune/inflammatory response, normalized lung abnormalities (chest CT scan), and reduced mortality without any serious complications. However, there is a need for placebo-controlled double-blind and controlled clinical trials to confirm the efficacy.