This study evaluates the effects of the addition of chlorpromazine to the standard therapeutic protocol in COVID-19 patients hospitalized for respiratory symptom management (score 3-5 WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement).
This study evaluates the effects of the addition of chlorpromazine to the standard
therapeutic protocol in COVID 19 patients hospitalized for respiratory symptom management
(score 3-5 WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement).
The investigators have observed in GHU-Paris psychiatry Hospital units (140 beds),
significantly lower prevalence of symptomatic and severe forms of COVID-19 in patients (3%)
than in the health workers operating in the same facilities (19% of nurses and 18% of
physicians). COVID-psychiatry units report similar feedback in France, Spain, and Italy. One
hypothesis could be that psychotropic drugs have a protective action on COVID-19 and protect
patients from symptomatic and virulent forms of COVID-19.
This hypothesis is consistent with research studies that have shown that several psychotropic
drugs inhibit in vitro viral replication of the coronaviruses MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1. The
SARS-CoV-2 has many characteristics in common with the coronavirus family and has
phylogenetic similarities to the SARS-CoV-1 engaged in the 2002-2003 outbreak. It is,
therefore, possible that one or more psychotropic drugs having demonstrated efficacy against
MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-1 also have anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity.
The current global epidemic of COVID-19, with a high number of deaths in many countries,
makes it urgent to search drugs potentially useful to reduce the severity and lethality of
the infection. Drug repositioning represents a possible alternative to the news medicines
discovery. This strategy makes it possible to eliminate many stages of development; it makes
it possible to deploy a therapy whose side effects are known and which physicians already
well know how to handle.
To confirm the hypothesis of the antiviral action of chlorpromazine on SARS-CoV-2, a
preclinical in vitro experiment began in April 2020 at the level III high-security biological
laboratory at the Pasteur Institute (in collaboration with the GHU PARIS Psychiatry &
Neurosciences). The first results are encouraging and show a marked antiviral effect of
chlorpromazine on SARS-CoV-2. Technical replicas are underway to validate these preliminary
results.
By integrating all these evidence, the investigators hypothesize that chlorpromazine could
decrease the unfavorable evolution of COVID-19 infection when administered at the onset of
respiratory signs.
Drug: CHLORPROMAZINE (CPZ)
Drug List 1, AMM obtained in 1952, AMM 3400930571187 1952/90, RCP revised 22/08/2019 Administration: oral route, if the clinical condition requires it, intravenous administration.
Initial dosage: 75 mg per day orally (or 37.5 mg per day orally in subjects 75 years of age or older).
Then: titration up to the maximum tolerated dose, with a minimum of 12.5 mg and a maximum of 300 mg per day by the oral administration (or 600 mg per day by the oral in certain exceptional cases which also correspond to the CPM CPM marketing authorization indications); or from 6.25 to 150 mg per day intravenously.
Duration of treatment: until healing criteria are obtained (≥ 8 days from the onset of COVID-19 symptoms AND ≥ 48 hours of apyrexia and absence of dyspnea) or 21 days maximum
Combination Product: Standard of Care (SOC)
In the absence of a reference treatment in COVID-19, the "standard of care" (SOC) is the comparison arm
Inclusion Criteria:
- Biological and/or radiological diagnosis of COVID-19 infection
- WHO-OSCI at 3, 4 or 5 at the time of inclusion
- Benefiting from a social security scheme
- Voluntarily participating in the clinical study; fully understanding and being fully
informed of the study and having signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF); willingness
and capability to complete all the study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
- Treatment with chlorpromazine (CPZ) the month preceding the inclusion visit
- Contraindication to the CPZ:
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients
- Risk of glaucoma by closing the angle.
- Risk of urinary retention linked to urethroprostatic disorders.
- History of agranulocytosis
- Association with dopaminergic outside Parkinson's (cabergoline, quinagolide),
citalopram, escitalopram, domperidone, hydroxyzine, and piperaquine
- Wheat allergy
- Risk of QT prolongation and occurrence of severe ventricular rhythm disorders: the
existence of bradycardia, hypokalaemia, long congenital or acquired QT
- History of ischemic stroke
- Treatment with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine during the inclusion visit or the
previous month
- Need for mechanical ventilation linked to COVID-19, during the inclusion visit or the
last month
- In the opinion of the clinical team, imminent progression to death within the next 24
hours regardless of treatment
- Psychiatric care under duress
- Protected adults, persons under the protection of justice
- Pregnant or lactating woman
Centre Hospitalier Sainte-Anne
Paris, France
Investigator: Marion Plaze, MD, PHD
Contact: 0145658652
m.plaze@ghu-paris.fr
Marion Plaze, MD, PHD
0145658646 - 0033
m.plaze@ghu-paris.fr
Raphaël Gaillard, MD, PHD
0145658646 - 0033
r.gaillard@ghu-paris.fr
Marion Plaze, MD, PHD, Principal Investigator
Service Hospitalo-Universitaire - GHU PARIS Psychiatrie & Neurosciences