Thalidomide
Thalidomide suppresses activated NF-κB that drives malignant cell proliferation, inflammation, angiogenesis, and poorly-regulated immune responses.51,52,53,54. Thalidomide also has an immunomodulatory effect when introduced together with the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib; together, these agents suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and interleukin-855 through inhibition of NF-κB by inhibiting the activity of the IκB kinase56. Thalidomide may be a powerful drug for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients undergoing treatment with thalidomide must be under the careful supervision of the System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety (S.T.E.P.S.) program57.