Conestat Alfa in the Prevention of Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

Inclusion Criteria: * Informed Consent as documented by signature * admitted to the hospital because of confirmed (by a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result) COVID-19 infection * evidence of pulmonary involvement on CT scan or X-ray of the chest (e.g. ground glass opacities) * symptom onset within the previous 10 days OR shortness of breath within the previous 5 days. Symptoms include fever or one respiratory symptom (patients presenting later may have already progressed to an inflammatory state that is potentially not amenable to C1INH treatment). Respiratory symptoms include cough, sore throat, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, runny nose, or chest pain. * expected to remain an inpatient over the next three calender days from time of enrolment * at least one additional risk factor for progression to mechanical ventilation: 1) arterial hypertension, 2) \>50 years, 3) obesity (BMI\>30.0 kg/m2), 4) cardiovascular disease, 5) chronic pulmonary disease, 7) chronic renal disease, 6) C-reactive protein of \>35mg/L, 7) oxygen saturation at rest in ambient air of \<94%. Cardiovascular disease includes a history of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and of recent (\< 3 months) deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Chronic pulmonary disease includes a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, occupational lung disease, interstitial lung disease or of pulmonary hypertension. Chronic renal disease is defined as a history of an estimated glomerular filtration rate (according to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) \< 60ml/min/1.73 m2 for at least three months. Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to the class of drugs under study (C1 esterase inhibitor), e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy to class of drugs or the investigational product * Treatment with tocilizumab or another Il-6R or Il-6 inhibitor before enrolment * History or suspicion of allergy to rabbits * Women who are pregnant or breast feeding * Active or planned treatment with any other complement inhibitor * Liver cirrhosis (any Child-Pugh score) * Incapacity or inability to provide informed consent * Currently admitted to an ICU or expected admission within the next 24 hours * Currently receiving invasive or non-invasive ventilation (with the exception of high-flow oxygen therapy). * In the opinion of the treating time, death is deemed to be imminent and inevitable within the next 24 hours * Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study with the following exemptions: 1) participation in COVID-19 drug trials started at least 48 hours before admission (e.g. postexposure prophylaxis with hydroxychloroquine) and 2) participation in COVID-19 drug trials during ICU admission * Previous enrolment into the current study * Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons * Any uncontrolled or significant concurrent illness that would put the patient at a greater risk or limit compliance with the study requirements