Clinical trial NCT04342663: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Fluvoxamine for Symptomatic Individuals With COVID-19 Infection
Official title: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Fluvoxamine for Symptomatic Individuals With COVID-19 Infection
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: COVID 19
Coronavirus
Keywords: COVID 19
fluvoxamine
Lead sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-04-13
Enrollment: 152
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this research study is to determine if a drug called fluvoxamine can be used early in the course of the COVID-19 infection to prevent more serious complications like shortness of breath. Fluvoxamine is an anti-depressant drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The use of fluvoxamine for the treatment of COVID-19 is considered investigational, which means the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for this use.

This study is fully-remote, which means that there is no face-to-face contact; study materials including study drug will be shipped to participants' houses. Only residents of Missouri and Illinois may participate.

Detailed description: We will consent approximately 152 participants, age 18 and older, who have tested tested positive for COVID-19 and are currently experiencing mild symptoms. All interactions for this study will be conducted remotely by videoconferencing, email, or phone.

Screening: All participants will first complete a pre-screen to see if they may be eligible for the study. Once a participant is confirmed eligible and consented, the study team will send the study materials. These materials will consist of study medication and self-monitoring equipment, including a pregnancy test (for females of childbearing age not using contraception), an oxygen saturation monitor, blood pressure monitor, and thermometer. Once the study team has finalized the screening process, the participant will begin taking the study medication.

RCT: Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to take either fluvoxamine or a placebo. This phase of the study will last approximately 15 days and is double-blinded. Participants will take 100mg of fluvoxamine or placebo by mouth three times a day for a daily total of 300mg. They will continue this dose for approximately 15 days. Depending on tolerability, the dose may be adjusted. Participants will also complete short 10-15 minute assessments daily to assess symptoms, results of self-monitoring (including oxygen level, blood pressure, and temperature) and any adverse events.

Open-label Phase: After completing the randomization phase, participants will then participate in an open-label phase (participant will definitely receive fluvoxamine) that will last up to 15 days. Those randomized to placebo will have the opportunity to try fluvoxamine during this time. Those randomized to fluvoxamine will continue this medication while slowly decreasing the drug. The participant may opt out of this phase. The dosage during this time will be 50-100mg two times daily until discontinuing the drug.

Follow-up Phase: We will follow participants for approximately 30 days after the end of the randomized phase. If needed, the study team will review medical records to determine the clinical course of participants.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. men and woman age 18 and older;
2. Not hospitalized;
3. Has recently tested SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus) positive.
4. Currently symptomatic with one or more of one or more of the following symptoms: fever, cough, myalgia, mild dyspnea, diarrhea, vomiting, anosmia (inability to smell), ageusia (inability to taste), sore throat.
5. Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Illness severe enough to require hospitalization or already meeting study's primary endpoint for clinical worsening.
2. Unstable medical comorbidities including, but not limited to: Severe underlying lung disease (COPD on home oxygen, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension), decompensated cirrhosis, Congestive heart failure (stage 3 or 4 per patient report and/or medical records).
3. Immunocompromised (solid organ transplant, BMT, AIDS, on biologics and/or high dose steroids (\>20mg prednisone per day)
4. Unable to provide informed consent (eg moderate-severe dementia diagnosis)
5. Unable to perform the study procedures

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of Participants Who Met Clinical Worsening
timeFrame: RCT (approximately 15 days)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Clinical Deterioration on a Likert-type Scale (0-6)
timeFrame: RCT (approximately 15 days)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Belleville
country: United States
facility: BJC
state: Illinois
city: Saint Louis
country: United States
facility: Washington University School of Medicine
state: Missouri
Study officials:
affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine
name: Eric J Lenze, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Sultana J, Crisafulli S, Gabbay F, Lynn E, Shakir S, Trifiro G. Challenges for Drug Repurposing in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Nov 6;11:588654. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.588654. eCollection 2020.
citation: Lenze EJ, Mattar C, Zorumski CF, Stevens A, Schweiger J, Nicol GE, Miller JP, Yang L, Yingling M, Avidan MS, Reiersen AM. Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020 Dec 8;324(22):2292-2300. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.22760.