Hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of adult patients with Covid-19 infection in a primary care setting (LIBERTY): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Vainio Petri J. , Hietasalo Pauliina , Koivisto Anna-Liisa , Kääriäinen Susanna , Turunen Jari , Virtala Mika , Vuorinen Jouni , Scheinin Mika 
Published: January 2021

Objectives

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo. The study hypothesis is that treatment with HCQ will reduce the risk of hospitalization because of Covid-19 infection, and the sample size estimate of the study is based on the need to test this hypothesis.

The secondary objectives of the study are:

to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HCQ in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo;

to collect experience of the use of HCQ in the treatment of Covid-19 infection in outpatients, in order to be able to identify patient characteristics that predict specific treatment responses (favourable or unfavourable); this objective will also be addressed by post-hoc subgroup analysis of the study results and by meta-analysis of pooled patient data from other clinical trials of HCQ in outpatients; and

to evaluate the impact of Covid-19 infection and its treatment on the mental health and well-being of the study participants.

In addition, if the data allow, the study has the following exploratory objectives:

to evaluate the extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding by PCR testing of nasopharyngeal swab samples in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;

to evaluate the extent and time course of SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific antibody responses in serum of study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;

to evaluate other possible biomarker changes in blood in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;

to explore the possible effects of genetic variation in drug metabolizing enzymes on HCQ-related outcomes in the study population;

to explore the associations of HCQ-related outcome variables with other patient characteristics, e.g. HLA haplotypes, HCQ concentrations, demographic variables, disease history and concomitant medications.

Trial design

This is a phase 2, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group treatment trial comparing HCQ with placebo in outpatients with Covid-19 infection. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the two treatment arms.

Participants

Main inclusion criteria:

Males and females >40 years of age, or 18-40 years of age with one or both of the following: i. diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2); ii. BMI > 35 kg/m2;

Valid independent informed consent obtained;

Symptoms typical of Covid-19 infection, according to criteria specified in the study protocol. The onset of symptoms must be within 5 days of enrolment;

Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result of a nasopharyngeal swab sample.

Main exclusion criteria:

1. Suspected severe or moderately severe pneumonia, presenting with any of the following: respiratory rate > 26 breaths/min; significant respiratory distress; or SpO2 ≤94% on room air;

2. Requiring treatment in the hospital, according to the treating physician’s judgement;

3. Any contraindication to treatment with HCQ;

4. Pregnancy or lactation.

The trial will be conducted at seven study sites in a primary public health care setting in the region of Satakunta, Finland.

Intervention and comparator

Participants will be randomized to receive either HCQ capsules at 300 mg twice a day for one day and then 200 mg twice a day for 6 days, or placebo capsules for 7 days.

Main outcomes

The primary endpoint of the study is the number of hospitalizations due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study.

The secondary endpoints of the study include the following:

duration and severity of Covid-19-related symptoms, as reported by daily self-assessments;

number of Intensive Care Unit treatment episodes due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;

number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;

number of treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs);

all-cause hospitalizations and mortality within six months of entry into the study; and

self-assessed symptoms of anxiety, as assessed with repeated administration of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7).

The exploratory endpoints of the study include the following:

extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and virus-specific antibody responses in serum; and

possible other blood biomarker changes.

Randomisation

Eligible study participants are randomly allocated into two treatment arms (1:1 ratio). The randomization list has been generated using Viedoc™ (Viedoc Technologies AB, Uppsala, Sweden) that is used as an electronic data capture system for this study.

Blinding (masking)

The participants and all study personnel remain blinded to the treatment allocation by having both IMPs packed in identical containers. Masking of the treatments was performed by re-formulation of the IMPs so that the HCQ capsules and the placebo capsules have identical appearance.

Numbers to be randomised (sample size)

600 participants are to be randomised with 300 in each arm.

Trial Status

Protocol version 2, dated 14 July 2020; recruitment is expected to start in December, 2020, and to be completed in June, 2021.

Trial registration

EudraCT 2020-002038-33, registered 26 June 2020

Full protocol

The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). The protocol has been redacted to conform with privacy regulations by deleting the names and contact information of individuals mentioned in the protocol but not listed as authors in this communication. In the interest of expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.