PGIMER doctors used Mw as an adjunct while treating the critically ill patients of coronavirus and plans to use it further if required.
Mw was originally developed as an immunomodulator for leprosy which acts through the toll-like receptor pathway and enhances host-T cell responses. Mw can potentially decrease the cytokine storm seen among COVID-19 patients, and may thus be of potential benefit in managing these patients and decreasing mortality.
A study is being conducted by PGIMER-Chandigarh, AIIMS-Delhi, and AIIMS-Bhopal to analyse the use of Mw--heat-killed mycobacterium indicus pranii-as an adjunct to the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
In a recently concluded multi-centre trial, the PGIMER found that Mw reduces mortality in ICU patients with severe sepsis and it can potentially decrease the cytokine storm seen in patients with COVID-19, and may thus be of potential benefit in managing these patients and decreasing mortality.