Treatment of pneumonia and ARDS with inhibitors of C5a and IL-6 activity

1. A method of treating infectious pneumonia and/or infectious acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, the method comprising:

administering to a patient in need thereof an inhibitor of C5a activity

(i) in combination with an inhibitor of IL-6 activity; and/or

(ii) wherein the patient is or has been treated with an inhibitor of IL-6 activity; and

wherein the inhibitor of C5a activity is vilobelimab and the inhibitor of IL-6 activity is tocilizumab.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises a regime comprising an induction phase followed by a maintenance phase, wherein the inhibitor of C5a activity is administered in the induction phase and the maintenance phase and the inhibitor of IL-6 activity is administered:

(I) within 0-30 days prior to the induction phase,

(II) during the induction phase, and/or

(III) during the maintenance phase.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

(i) the induction phase comprises or consists essentially of a period of 1 to 10 days, wherein 1-8 doses, each comprising 200-1600 mg of said inhibitor of C5a activity, are administered; and

(ii) the maintenance phase comprises or consists essentially of a period of at least 2 weeks, wherein a dose, comprising 200-1600 mg of said inhibitor of C5a activity, is administered every 1-4 weeks.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

(i) 1 or 2 doses of the inhibitor of IL-6 activity is administered within 0 to 14 days prior and/or after the start of the induction phase; and/or

(ii) the inhibitor of IL-6 activity is administered at a weight dependent dose of 8 mg/kg for patients at or above 30 kg weight or 12 mg/kg for patients of less than 30 kg weight.