Kappa Bioscience has entered into a research collaboration with US-based University Hospitals. The collaboration aims to generate a better understanding of the implications of a vitamin K2 deficiency in COVID-19 pathogenesis and severity.
Studies have shown suboptimal vitamin K2 status to be associated with heightened inflammatory state, cardiovascular risk, and in one recent European study, more serious outcomes of COVID-19. Kappa Bioscience supports University Hospitals in their intention to explore further and build knowledge on the possible links between vitamin K deficiency and COVID-19 development.
The research will be led by Dr Grace McComsey, Vice President of Research and Associate Chief Scientific Officer, University Hospitals, and will start by investigating the potential correlations between several inflammatory chemical mediators (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10), vitamin K2 status (measured as dp-ucMGP), vitamin D status and COVID-19 severity in patients hospitalized in the University Hospital Health System, which holds an extensive biorepository of COVID-19 de-identified patient data and biological specimens. Healthy volunteers will serve as controls in this extensive project that will include samples from 100 COVID-19-positive patients. Samples from patients who are both in the early and late stage of infection from the coronavirus will be analysed.
"In case the generated data supports the hypothesis of a possible benefit of vitamin K2 supplementation, the project could go further and test this causality in prospective clinical trials. Kappa Bioscience is a manufacturer of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7), and this product will be suitable as an active ingredient within the investigational product we need for the clinical trials. Our intention is to continue the collaboration with Kappa Bioscience throughout this interesting project", said Dr McComsey.