Life Science and Medical News from Around the Globe
CytoDyn Offers No-Cost Exploratory Laboratory Testing for Kawasaki-Like Childhood Inflammatory Disease Associated with COVID-19; CytoDyn Has Monoclonal Antibody Drug (Leronlimab) in Clinical Trials for Treatment of COVID-19
On May 15, 2020, CytoDyn Inc. (OTC.QB: CYDY) (http://www.cytodyn.com), a late-stage biotechnology company developing leronlimab (PRO 140), a CCR5 antagonist with the potential for multiple therapeutic indications, announced that it is offering comprehensive cytokine profiling (including RANTES levels) (RANTES/CCL5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCL5) through its diagnostic partner company, IncellDx (https://incelldx.com/), to help physicians understand the pathogenesis of Childhood Inflammatory Disease Related to COVID-19. These laboratory tests are exploratory in nature and not intended for clinical decision-making. Recent reports in parts of the U.S. and Europe suggest a rare and potentially fatal inflammatory disease linked to the novel coronavirus is afflicting a small number of children. The condition resembles a rare childhood illness called Kawasaki disease, which has similar signs and symptoms and can lead to enlargement of blood vessels that, in severe forms, may cause heart damage. The New York State Department of Health is currently investigating 110 reported cases and 3 deaths in children--predominantly school-aged--experiencing symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome, possibly due to COVID-19.