Treatment of Long COVID (TLC) Feasibility Trial
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The primary objective of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of methods and procedures to be employed in a larger scale decentralized platform adaptive randomized clinical trial in patients with history of a SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive test and/or medical records from healthcare provider that coincides with the diagnosis of long-COVID.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Phase 3 |
Detailed Description
Fully decentralized single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot feasibility trial for patients reporting symptoms consistent with at least one of the following PASC symptoms: Brain fog, Fatigue, Headache, Sleep Disturbance, Post-exertional Malaise (PEM), or Dysautonomia.
Participants' interactions with study staff and the study visits will occur primarily via REDCap and Zoom. Informed consent will be conducted remotely via Zoom and obtained electronically in REDCap. Subjects will complete protocol-required logs, questionnaires, and surveys in REDCap. Dose tolerability assessments will occur via televisit preferably, or phone if necessary.
Following informed consent, subjects will enter a 4-week screening period during which medical records will be obtained and reviewed. At baseline (Day -28) subjects will complete a battery of tests consisting of the WHODAS 2.0, PROMIS Fatigue 7a, Insomnia Severity Scale, PROMIS Cognitive Function 6A, DSQ-PEM Short Form, Headache Diary, COMPASS 31, and Self-reported persistent symptoms questionnaire. The headache diary requires daily tracking for 7 days (i.e., Day -28- Day -22).
Subjects who successfully complete the screening phase will proceed to randomization where they will be randomized 1:1 to either an opioid antagonist arm (low dose naltrexone (LDN)) or a histamine receptor antagonist arm (cetirizine and famotidine). Within arm 2:1 randomization will then occur assigning subjects to either IP or placebo control respectively. Emory University's Investigational Drug Services (IDS) will conduct the randomization and will overnight via national courier the assigned medication to the study subject. The study subject and study team will be unblind to the treatment arm, i.e., LDN or HRA, but blind to within arm treatment, i.e., LDN or placebo or HRA or placebo. The treatment phase of 12 weeks starts upon ingestion of the first dose.
LDN will be supplied in 1.5mg capsules. Initial dosing will be 1.5mg daily titrating up biweekly to 3.0 mg and 4.5 mg, as tolerated. Dose tolerability will be assessed biweekly via televisit or phone call. Subjects who tolerate the 4.5 mg dose will remain on it throughout the treatment phase. If the patient does not tolerate the dose, it will be adjusted downward, and tolerance reassessed in two weeks. Subjects who do not tolerate the minimum 1.5mg dose will be removed from the study.
Cetirizine and famotidine will be supplied as 10mg capsules and 20mg capsules respectively. Dosing for the entire treatment period is one 10mg capsule cetirizine or placebo once daily, preferably at bedtime, and one 20mg capsule famotidine or placebo twice daily, as near as possible to the same time every day. Dose tolerability will be assessed on Day 14 via televisit or phone call. If the dose of either IP is not tolerated, subjects will be removed from the study. If the doses are tolerated, subjects will be resupplied and tolerability assessed per protocol.
Throughout the treatment phase subjects in all arms will complete the symptom questionnaire, adverse event, study drug adherence, and concomitant medication logs weekly. All subjects will complete the full battery of tests on Days 42, 63, and 84 (Weeks 6, 9, and 12). Subjects will have a +/- 3-day window in which to complete the battery. However, the headache diary requires daily tracking for the 7 days preceding Days 43, 63, and 84. On Day 84 all subjects will complete an end-of-study survey assessing their thoughts and feelings about the study methods and procedures.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: LDN Treatment Arm Participants randomized to Treatment Arm will receive Low-dose Naltrexone. |
Drug: Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN)
LDN will be administered in an escalating dose beginning at 1.5 mg/day by mouth for 2 weeks and increasing by 1.5mg every two weeks to the maximum dosage of 4.5 mg/day which will continue throughout the treatment phase. Dose escalation or de-escalation will be based on safety and tolerability at the discretion of the Investigator, depending on the patient's response to therapy and experience of adverse events.
Other Names:
|
| Experimental: HRA Treatment Arm Participants randomized to Treatment Arm will receive dual histamine receptor antagonists: famotidine and cetirizine daily. |
Drug: Cetirizine
Cetirizine will be dispensed as a 10mg capsule with instructions for patients to take one capsule daily by mouth, preferably at bedtime.
Drug: Famotidine
Famotidine will be dispensed in 20mg capsules with instructions for patients to take one capsule twice daily, as close to the same times every day as possible.
Other Names:
|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo Arm The compounding study pharmacy will provide placebo capsules to the patients randomized to Placebo. These capsules are manufactured to match each treatment drug for oral administration. |
Drug: LDN Placebo
The LDN placebo will be designed as a capsule of an inert substance, that matches the morphology of the LDN treatment capsule. Administration instructions to match that of LDN.
Drug: Cetirizine Placebo
The cetirizine placebo will be designed as a capsule of an inert substance and will match the morphology of the cetirizine treatment capsule. Administration instructions to match that of cetirizine.
Drug: Famotidine Placebo
The famotidine placebo will be designed as a capsule of an inert substance and will match the morphology of the famotidine treatment capsule. Administration instructions to match that of famotidine.
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Number of participants that had any confusion over how to take the study drug, including which pill to take, when to take it, or how many to take [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that had any confusion over how to take the study drug, including which pill to take, when to take it, or how many to take will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that had trouble adhering to the study drug schedule [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that had trouble adhering to the study drug schedule will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that had any difficulty using the REDCap interface. [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that had any difficulty using the REDCap interface will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that prefer participating in this virtual study [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that prefer participating in this virtual study compared to participating in an in-person study hosted at a medical center will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants satisfied with their opportunities to interact with study staff [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants satisfied with their opportunities to interact with study staff will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that felt they could reach study staff if needed [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that felt they could reach study staff if needed will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that felt that study staff was available and easy to contact to report any adverse effects [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that felt that study staff was available and easy to contact to report any adverse effects that they experienced from the medication will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that felt that the amount of information collected in each series of surveys was acceptable [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that felt that the amount of information collected in each series of surveys was acceptable will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Number of participants that felt that the frequency in which the information was collected was acceptable [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of participants that felt that the frequency in which the information was collected was acceptable will be recorded as part of the end-of-study survey.
- Improvement rating [12 weeks post-intervention]
Participants will be asked how much they feel they improved from this treatment over the last 12 week using a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being complete improvement (better outcome) and 1 being no improvement.
- Quality of life (QoL) score rating [12 weeks post-intervention]
Participants will be asked how much their quality of life was impacted by changes to their health during the study. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most impacted (better outcome) and 1 being not at all impacted by changes to their health.
- Interest score [12 weeks post-intervention]
Participants will be asked how interested they are in continuing treatment with the study medication after the study. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being completely interested (better outcome) and 1 being completely uninterested.
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Proportion of survey completion [12 weeks post-intervention]
Percentage of participants who complete 70% of surveys will be assessed
- Proportion of study drug adherence [12 weeks post-intervention]
Percentage of participants who complete 70% of doses will be assessed
- Proportion of Lost to Follow Up (LFUP) [12 weeks post-intervention]
Percentage of participants Lost to Follow Up (LFUP) will be assessed
- Proportion of voluntary termination [12 weeks post-intervention]
Percentage of participants that voluntarily terminate participation will be assessed
- Adverse events (AEs) incidence [12 weeks post-intervention]
The total number of adverse events in the treatment arms versus the placebo arm will be recorded.
- Serious, unexpected suspected adverse reactions (SUSAR) incidence [12 weeks post-intervention]
The number of SUSARs in the treatment arms versus the placebo arm will be recorded.
- Study-wide serious adverse events (SAEs) incidence [12 weeks post-intervention]
The total number of SAEs in the treatment arms versus the placebo arm will be recorded.
- Number of discontinuations or temporary suspensions of IP [12 weeks post-intervention]
The total number of participants who discontinue any of the treatment arms versus the placebo arm will be recorded.
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Adults ≥18 years of age with a history of a SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive test and/or medical records from a healthcare provider that coincides with the diagnosis of long-COVID
-
New or worsened symptoms since the onset of COVID-19 that are persistent at the time of enrollment and have lasted for ≥ 12 weeks (including at least one of the following: fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), headache, brain fog, sleep disturbance, dysautonomia.
-
Confirmation of negative urine or serum HCG (pregnancy) test in women of childbearing potential
-
Willing to use appropriate contraceptives for female and male subjects for the duration of the study
-
Has an address (for mailing of study drug) in the state of Georgia
-
Able to swallow capsules
-
Has reliable access to a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer capable of connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi or a data plan
-
Available lab work (CBC and CMP) after the onset of long COVID symptoms
-
Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, and other study procedures including receiving either intervention or placebo
-
Willing to not take any of the study medications while enrolled in the study except for essential needs as prescribed by a healthcare provider
Exclusion Criteria:
-
No PASC symptoms at the time of enrollment or PASC symptoms present <12 weeks at the time of enrollment
-
Inability to provide own informed consent
-
Currently Hospitalized
-
For WOCBP, currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant during the study period; for males with partners OCBP, plans to become pregnant during the study period
-
Actively enrolled in another Long COVID/PASC interventional trial or participation in another interventional clinical trial in the last 30 days or planned during the trial period
-
Unstable medical comorbidities (e.g., decompensated cirrhosis, stage III-IV chronic kidney disease, NYHA class III congestive heart failure), per the patient report, telemedicine physical exam, baseline laboratory values (hematology and extended chemistry panels) and/or medical records
-
Other medical conditions occurring after the onset of COVID-19 that can otherwise account for PASC-type symptoms
-
Currently immunocompromised from the following: solid organ transplant, BMT, high dose steroids (>20mg prednisone per day), immune modulators, or chemotherapy
-
Currently taking opioid analgesics, undergoing treatment for opioid addiction, or taking any other prohibited concomitant medication
-
Opioid dependence or withdrawal syndrome
-
Known sensitivity or adverse reaction to naltrexone, H1 or H2 receptor antagonists, or medication components
-
Suspected or confirmed pregnancy or breastfeeding
-
Current users of LDN
-
Participants already on H1 or H2 receptor antagonists within three (3) months of randomization
-
Currently receiving other therapies to treat COVID-19 or Long COVID symptoms, e.g., convalescent plasma, remdesivir, Paxlovid
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grady Health System | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 30303 |
| 2 | Emory University Hospital Midtown | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 30308 |
| 3 | Emory Hospital | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 30322 |
| 4 | Metro-Atlanta | Atlanta | Georgia | United States | 30340 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- Emory University
- CURE Drug Repurposing Collaboratory (CDRC)
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Tiffany Walker, MD, Emory University
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- STUDY00005537