After passing safety hurdle, Orpheris kick-starts COVID-19 cytokine storm efficacy test

Biotech Orpheris has been given the FDA go-ahead for a phase 2 aimed at calming the cytokine storm sometimes caused by COVID-19.

The biotech hopes its therapy can help those with the disease who are hit with a secondary complication known as a cytokine storm. This can be fatal and comes as a result of an overreaction of the body’s immune system; it’s also seen in other infections such as influenza.