Intranasal type I interferon treatment is beneficial only when administered before clinical signs onset in the SARS-CoV-2 hamster model
Pierre Bessière, Marine Wasniewski, Evelyne Picard‐Meyer, Alexandre Servat, Thomas Figueroa, Charlotte Foret‐Lucas, Amelia Coggon, Sandrine Lesellier, Frank Boué, Nathan Cebron, Blandine Gausserès, Catherine Trumel, Gilles Foucras, Francisco J. Salguero, Élodie Monchâtre-Leroy, Romain Volmer
Abstract
Impaired type I interferons (IFNs) production or signaling have been associated with severe COVID-19, further promoting the evaluation of recombinant type I IFNs as therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the Syrian hamster model, we show that intranasal administration of IFN-α starting one day pre-infection or one day post-infection limited weight loss and decreased viral lung titers. By contrast, intranasal administration of IFN-α starting at the onset of symptoms three days post-infection had no impact on the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results provide evidence that early type I IFN treatment is beneficial, while late interventions are ineffective, although not associated with signs of enhanced disease.