28 May 2020 - - China-based biopharmaceutical company I-Mab (NASDAQ: IMAB) has reported interim results from a clinical study of neutralising antibody TJM2 in patients with cytokine release syndrome associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the company said.

I- followed a rigorous and robust clinical trial protocol, the first among similar anti-GM-CSF antibody studies globally, to ensure robustness of the study conclusion and data integrity.

Since the outbreak took place, I-Mab has prioritised TJM2 in response to the urgent medical needs. The study is further supported by the preliminary and encouraging evidence from other pilot studies with GM-CSF antibody class for this clinical indication.

The emerging data indicate that the common features among COVID-19 patients particularly those severely or critically ill include lymphopenia and significantly elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including GM-CSF and IL-6, IFN-gamma.

Recently published data indicate that COVID-19 can induce a cytokine storm instigated by extensive immune cell infiltration and the release of GM-CSF and IL-6.

According to the World Health Organisation, as of May 26, 2020, there were 5,404,512 confirmed cases and 343,514 deaths of COVID-19 globally. Severe and critically ill patients account for approximately 20% of all diagnosed patients.

I-Mab is exclusively focussed on developing biologics of novel or highly differentiated in the therapeutic areas of immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases.