Two phase-3 RCTs evaluating the efficacy of IL-1 inhibitors in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 have recently been published, confirming significant beneficial effects on clinical status and survival for anakinra (98), but not for the anti-IL-1β monoclonal antibody canakinumab (114), thereby suggesting a central contribution of the alarmin IL-1α to acute lung inflammation and COVID-19 pathogenesis (7). Here, IL1B is linked to COVID-19.