Problems of VirologyProblems of Virology0507-40882411-2097Central Research Institute for Epidemiology47710.36233/0507-4088-24Interferon gamma in the treatment of patients with moderate COVID-19MyasnikovA. L.<p>Alexander L. Myasnikov - Ph.D., Ph.S., Head Physician.</p><p class="MsoNormal">121374, Moscow</p>fake@neicon.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2347-8317BernsS. A.<p>Svetlana A. Berns - D.Sci. (Med.), Prof., Scientific Consultant of Therapeutic Departments Moscow.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Pavel A. Talyzin</p>fake@neicon.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1002-1895TalyzinP. A.<p>Pavel A. Talyzin - Head of intensive care stroke unit.</p><p>121374, Moscow</p>fake@neicon.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8333-8354ErshovF. I.<p class="MsoNormal">Felix I. Ershov - D.Sci.(Med.), Prof., Academician of the RAS, Head of the Department of Interferons and Interferonogenesis.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">123098, Moscow</span></p>fake@neicon.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4780-7560Moscow SBIH City Clinical Hospital named after M.E. Zhadkevich of the Moscow City Health DepartmentFSBI National Research Centre of Epidemiology and Microbiology named after honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Health of Russia0703202166147540703202107032021Copyright © 2021, Myasnikov A.L., Berns S.A., Talyzin P.A., Ershov F.I.2021<p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Introduction.</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> Interferons are produced in response to the presence of pathogens in cells and are responsible for the proper formation of immune reaction. Preliminary data obtained in studies of properties of recombinant interferon gamma (IFN-γ) that involved patients with community-acquired pneumonia (including bacterial), acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI), influenza and new coronavirus infection have shown promising results.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The <strong>purpose</strong> of the study was to assess the effect of subcutaneous administration of IFN-γ in patients with viral pneumonia on the changes of vital signs and the duration of hospital stay.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Material and methods</span></strong><span lang="EN-US">. An open-label, randomized, low-interventional study included patients with moderate new coronavirus infection COVID-19 over 18 years of age of both sexes. IFN-γ 500,000 IU was administered s/c, daily, once a day, during 5 days.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Results.</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> IFN-y in addition to complex therapy of the disease resulted in more favorable changes in the stabilization of vital signs, as well as in reduced length of fever and hospital stay by 2 days what allows suggesting a positive effect of this substance on the recovery processes in patients with moderate COVID-19. Special emphasis should be made to the fact that patients who received recombinant IFN- γ experienced no progression of respiratory failure and required no transfer to intensive care unit.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Discussion.</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> This study confirms earlier obtained data on the positive effect of IFN-y on the rate of clinical stabilization and recovery of patients with community-acquired pneumonia and viral infections. Presented results are limited to a small number of patients; further study of drug properties in post-marketing studies is required.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span lang="EN-US">Conclusion.</span></strong><span lang="EN-US"> Progress in the treatment of patients with moderate COVID-19 by adding recombinant IFN-γ to the complex therapy may reasonably expand the range of existing treatment options for this infection.</span></p>interferon gammaCOVID-19coronavirus infectionsviral pneumoniavital signsduration of hospital stayинтерферон гаммаCOVID-19новая коронавирусная инфекциявирусная пневмонияжизненно важные показателидлительность госпитализации[1. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=COVID-19%2C+SARS-CoV-2&term=IFN&cntry=&state=&city=&dist= (accessed December 16, 2020).][2. Dastan F., Nadji S.A., Saffaei A., Marjani M., Moniri A., Jamaa-ti H., et al. Subcutaneous administration of interferon beta-1a for COVID-19: A non-controlled prospective trial. Int. 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