METHODS OF INHIBITING MASP-2 FOR THE TREATMENT AND/OR PREVENTION OF CORONAVIRUS-INDUCED ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME

In one aspect, the invention provides methods for treating, inhibiting, alleviating, or preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, or some other pulmonary or other manifestation of coronavirus infection, such as thrombosis, in a mammalian subject infected with coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV-2. The methods comprise the step of administering to a subject infected with coronavirus an amount of a MASP-2 inhibitory agent effective to inhibit MASP-2-dependent complement activation. In one embodiment, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent is a MASP-2 monoclonal antibody, or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a portion of SEQ ID NO:6. In one embodiment, the MASP-2 inhibitory agent is a small molecule MASP-2 inhibitory compound. In one embodiment, the subject is a human subject suffering from COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and requires supplemental oxygen prior to treatment and the MASP-2 inhibitory agent is administered in an amount sufficient to discontinue the need for supplemental oxygen.