Impact of the MIneralocorticoid Receptor antagonism on COVID-19 pathogeny – MIRCOV

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-1 is daunting and challenging event for the scientific community, health authorities and governments worldwide. Our understanding of the virus biology or the pathogenesis of the COVID-19 remains limited. In addition to the promise that vaccination will contain the spread of the virus, novel therapeutic approaches to limit infection and/or reduce its short and/or long-term damaging consequences are a major challenge.
Repositioning of pharmaceutical agents that would interfere with one or several steps in the infection process, cellular and systemic consequences and/or limit the deleterious long-term consequences is of great interest, especially since this will allow rapid and low-cost intervention worldwide.
The working hypothesis of the MIRCOV project, based on preclinical preliminary data and a strong clinical rationale, is that Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (MRAs), especially spironolactone and its derivative canrenoate, will reduce 1) inflammation, thrombosis and fibrosis in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells challenged with recombinant Spike protein 2) cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, liver, and metabolic damages as well as systemic inflammation and morbimortality in a mouse model of COVID-19.