This clinical trial evaluates the safety, efficacy, and biomarker levels of FDA-approved drug disulfiram in the treatment of adult subjects hospitalized with moderate COVID-19. Disulfiram may limit the hyperinflammatory response associated with COVID-19 and reduce the risk of progression to severe illness. Subjects will be screened and randomized to receive either daily administration of oral disulfiram or placebo for 14 days. Subjects will be followed up on Day 28.
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and causes
substantial morbidity and mortality. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or
infection with SARS-CoV-2 or therapeutic agent to treat COVID-19. The ongoing COVID-19
pandemic has demonstrated increased risk to those with an aging immune system. The elderly
and those with comorbidities are reported as being the most susceptible to COVID-19, which
may be due to a higher basal state of inflammation ("inflammaging") and a primed inflammasome
pathway. Disulfiram, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence, has a
potential for limiting the hyperinflammatory response associated with COVID-19. Specifically,
the drug inhibits gasdermin D pore formation, reducing pyroptosis and netosis and could
target the root cause of hyperinflammation, weakening the cytokine storm and therefore
reducing the risk of progression to severe illness.
This is a stratified, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of disulfiram in
hospitalized subjects over the age of 50 diagnosed with moderate COVID-19. Up to 200 subjects
are planned to be enrolled and randomized (1:1) to either receive 500 mg of disulfiram
(active product) or placebo, orally (po) or enterally (only in patients that require
mechanical ventilation) once daily for fourteen (14) days in addition to standard of care.
Stratification will be done at randomization based on age and comorbidities.
Drug: Disulfiram
The subject will receive 500 mg of disulfiram orally or enterally through NG tube if in mechanical ventilation once daily for 14 days
Other Name: Antabuse
Drug: Placebo
The subject will receive a matching placebo orally or enterally through NG tube if in mechanical ventilation once daily for 14 days
Inclusion Criteria:
Subjects may be enrolled in the study only if all the inclusion criteria are met.
1. Male and female subjects, age 35 or older.
2. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative hCG (in urine or blood)
pregnancy test.
3. An International Ethics Committee (IEC) approved informed consent is signed and dated
prior to any study-related activities.
4. Willing to abstain from any alcohol or substances containing alcohol (including
medications, personal hygiene products, salad dressing) within 24 hours prior to
treatment and for 14 days after treatment concludes.
5. Have the ability to understand the requirements of the study and is willing to comply
with all study procedures and visits.
6. Respiratory rate: ≤ 30 per minute.
7. Use supplemental O2 via nasal cannula or equivalent.
8. Currently hospitalized ≤ 5 days.
9. PCR test or rapid antigen test confirming SARS-CoV-2.
10. In the opinion of the investigator, able to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects may not be enrolled in the study if any of the exclusion criteria apply.
1. Admission into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at screening and baseline.
2. Clinically active Hepatitis.
3. ALT or AST > 3 times the upper limit of normal.
4. Need for invasive or non-invasive ventilation at screening and baseline.
5. Stage 4 severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis or estimated GFR < 30.
6. Known allergy to disulfiram.
7. Treatment with any of the medications listed below within 7 days prior to the baseline
visit 1: Amprenavir, Dronabinol, Hydantoins, Metronidazole, Ritonavir, Benznidazole,
Dyphylline, Idelalisib, Naltrexone, Sertraline, Chloral Hydrate, Ethanol,
Immuno-modulatory drugs, Paclitaxel, Tinidazole, Cocaine, Ethotoin, Ixabepilone,
Phenytoin, Tipranavir, Cyclosporine, Fosphenytoin, Lithium, Pimozide, Tranylcypromine,
Dasabuvir, Guaifenesin, Mesoridazine, Pirfenidone.
8. Participation in any other interventional trial within 30 days prior to enrollment.
9. Active malignancy (excluding basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, in situ
cervical cancer, or adenocarcinoma of the prostate with low or very low-risk
categories by NCCN criteria).
10. Any surgical or medical condition which in the opinion of the investigator may
interfere with participation in the study or which may affect the outcome of the
study.
11. Fully vaccinated for COVID-19 (number of doses as per manufacturer recommendation.
ETICA
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil