The purpose of this study is to test the safety and efficacy of convalescent donor plasma to treat COVID-19 in hospitalized adults in a randomized, placebo-controlled setting. The effect of convalescent plasma will be compared to placebo on clinical outcomes, measured using the COVID-19 7-point Ordinal Clinical Progression Outcomes Scale at Day 15, among adults with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.
After being informed about the study and potential risks, participants confirmed to meet all
eligibility criteria who have provided informed consent will be randomized 1:1 to
convalescent plasma versus placebo. Transfusion of convalescent plasma or placebo will be
administered by clinical or research personnel while the patient is hospitalized on Study Day
1. On Study Days 1-7, participants will be monitored for adverse reactions to the
transfusion. Research personnel will also assess patients at Day 14 and Day 28; these
assessments will be completed by phone if the participant has been discharged from the
hospital.
Biological: pathogen reduced SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma
Convalescent COVID-19 donor plasma is the liquid part of blood that is collected from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection. This plasma contains SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies that may help fight the infection.
Biological: Placebo
Lactated Ringer's solution with multivitamins
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age greater than or equal to 18 years
2. Currently hospitalized or in an emergency department with anticipated hospitalization
3. Symptoms of acute respiratory infection, defined as one or more of the following:
1. Cough
2. Chills, or a fever (greater than 37.5° C or 99.5° F)
3. Shortness of breath, operationalized as a patient having any of the following:
i. Subjective shortness of breath reported by a patient or surrogate. ii. Tachypnea
with respiratory rate of greater than 22 breaths per minute iii. Hypoxemia, defined as
SpO2 less than 92% on room air, new receipt of supplemental oxygen to maintain SpO2
greater than or equal to 92%, or increased supplemental oxygen to maintain SpO2
greater than or equal to 92% for a patient on chronic oxygen therapy
4. Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the past 14 days
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Prisoner
2. Unable to randomize within 14 days after onset of acute respiratory infection symptoms
3. Patient, legal representative, or physician not committed to full support (Exception:
a patient who will receive all supportive care except for attempts at resuscitation
from cardiac arrest will not be excluded.)
4. Inability to be contacted on Day 29-36 for clinical outcome assessment
5. Receipt of any SARS-CoV-2 passive immunity therapy, such as convalescent plasma,
monoclonal antibodies, or pooled immunoglobulin, in the past 30 days
6. Contraindications to transfusion or history of prior reactions to transfused blood
products
7. Plan for hospital discharge within 24 hours of enrollment
8. Previous enrollment in this trial
9. Previous laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection before the current illness
10. Enrollment in another clinical trial evaluating monoclonal antibodies, convalescent
plasma, or another passive immunity therapy
11. Prior receipt of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Scripps Health
La Jolla, California, United States
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, Colorado, United States
MedStar Health Research Institute/MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Cleveland Clinic Florida
Weston, Florida, United States
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, United States
The University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
University of Maryland, Baltimore (University of Maryland Medical Center)
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Newton-Wellelsey Hospital
Newton, Massachusetts, United States
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
University at Buffalo/Buffalo General Medical Center
Buffalo, New York, United States
Rochester General Hospital
Rochester, New York, United States
Cleveland Clinic Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Utah Valley Hospital
Provo, Utah, United States
University of Utah Health
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington, United States
Todd Rice, MD, Principal Investigator
Vanderbilt University Medical Center