Preliminary reported data have indeed suggested that early treatment of COVID-19 with drugs targeting IL-1 (using an IL-1 receptor antagonist) or IL-6 (using humanized anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies) proved to be beneficial, by reducing the mortality rate among severe cases of COVID-19 (11, 29, 30, 61). The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is COVID-19.