Author contributions
MP
RECRUITMENT
BP, TN, and AA conceived and designed the study. BP, TN, AKP, MB, SR, MP, and RT prepared the protocol and implemented the study. TN did trial drug procurement. MV, NR, AT, SKr, MB, SR, MP, and AKP performed patient recruitment and clinical monitoring. MF, RT, MP, MK, and SA did COVID RT-PCR testing. SR, RT, MP, and SK performed hematological and biochemical blood tests. RR and AC performed the cytokines and molecular testing. BM, SK, MV, NR, MB, MS, and BP prepared eCRF and did data documentation and validation. AK, RR, MS, AC, and BP analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.