EARLY DRUG INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE COVID-19 RELATED RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, NEED FOR VENTILATOR ASSISTANCE AND DEATH

摘要

The present invention provides methods of treating the early stages of COVID-19 infection in a patient in need thereof. The methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of a drug that increases signaling through the GC-A receptor, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, to a patient in need thereof. In certain aspects, the drug is a NEP inhibitor, a GC-A receptor agonist, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention prevent the progression from the early stages of COVID-19 infection to hypoxemia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or death. In certain embodiments, the methods of the present invention prevent the development of pulmonary dysfunction after developing early symptoms of COVID-19 infection or the progression from mild to severe hypoxemia in these patients.