* known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for \> 2 months * patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator * known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association \[nyha\] class iii- iv) * received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months * known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days phase iii: inclusion criteria: * at least 18 years of age or older * patient on invasive mechanical ventilation (but not more than 48h post intubation at time point of first imp administration) * patients with a pao2 / fio2 ratio of \< 200 and \> 60 at randomization (one representative measurement within 6h before randomization) * sars-cov-2 infection confirmation (tested positive in last 14 days before randomization with locally available test system)

* known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for \> 2 months * patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator * known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association \[nyha\] class iii- iv) * received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months * known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days phase iii: inclusion criteria: * at least 18 years of age or older * patient on invasive mechanical ventilation (but not more than 48h post intubation at time point of first imp administration) * patients with a pao2 / fio2 ratio of \< 200 and \> 60 at randomization (one representative measurement within 6h before randomization) * sars-cov-2 infection confirmation (tested positive in last 14 days before randomization with locally available test system)

known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for > 2 months patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association [nyha] class iii- iv) received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days phase iii: inclusion criteria: at least 18 years of age or older patient on invasive mechanical ventilation (but not more than 48h post intubation at time point of first imp administration) patients with a pao2 / fio2 ratio of < 200 and > 60 at randomization (one representative measurement within 6h before randomization) sars-cov-2 infection confirmation (tested positive in last 14 days before randomization with locally available test system)

known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for > 2 months patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association [nyha] class iii- iv) received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days phase iii: inclusion criteria: at least 18 years of age or older patient on invasive mechanical ventilation (but not more than 48h post intubation at time point of first imp administration) patients with a pao2 / fio2 ratio of < 200 and > 60 at randomization (one representative measurement within 6h before randomization) sars-cov-2 infection confirmation (tested positive in last 14 days before randomization with locally available test system)

- known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for > 2 months - patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator - known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association [nyha] class iii- iv - received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months - known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days

- known history of progressed copd as evidenced by use of daily maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators or inhaled/oral corticosteroids for > 2 months - patient moribund or expected to die in next 24h according to the judgment of the investigator - known severe congestive heart failure (new york heart association [nyha] class iii- iv - received organ or bone marrow transplantation in past 3 months - known cardio-pulmonary mechanical resuscitation in past 14 days