On Apr. 10, 2020, Terumo BCT and Marker Therapeutics announced the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of Terumo BCT’s Spectra Optiaﾮ Apheresis System combined with Marker Therapeuticsﾒ D2000 Adsorption Cartridge to treat patients 18 years of age or older with confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit with confirmed or imminent respiratory failure to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

The devices work together by reducing the number of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, i.e., small active proteins in the bloodstream that control a cell’s immune response by filtering the blood and returning the filtered blood to the patient. The proteins that are removed are typically elevated during infections and can be associated with a “cytokine storm” that occurs in some COVID-19 patients, leading to severe inflammation, rapidly progressive shock, respiratory failure, organ failure and death.

Terumo BCT, a U.S. based leader in blood component, therapeutic apheresis and cellular technologies, and Marker Therapeutics AG, a Swiss-based diagnostic and therapeutics company, formed this collaboration to combine their existing technologies to provide an innovative approach to potentially treat severe respiratory symptoms caused by COVID-19.