The purpose of this research is to understand if the study drug, also called sargramostim or Leukine®, can help prevent the worsening of COVID-19 when the study drug is inhaled. This study will also help researchers understand if inhaled sargramostim can help prevent visits to the emergency room or hospitalization, or death.
This Phase 2b, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study will randomize
approximately 500 adult patients who are symptomatic with mild or moderate COVID-19 (as
defined in the FDA Guidance Document: Covid-19: Developing Drugs and Biological Products for
Treatment or Prevention, May 2020) who are at high risk for progression to more severe
disease. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to inhaled sargramostim plus standard of
care (SOC) or placebo plus SOC. Enrollment of patients who have completed a COVID-19
vaccination regimen or participated in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial will be capped at
approximately 100 patients. All patients will be randomized to receive either 250 mcg of
sargramostim or equivalent volume of placebo diluent. Treatment will be administered once
daily for 5 days delivered via a vibrating mesh nebulizer. Patients will be followed for up
to 60 days after start of treatment.
Sargramostim (Leukine) is a formulation of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor
(GM-CSF), which is a critical cytokine for healthy pulmonary function. Detailed studies have
shown that GM-CSF is necessary for alveolar macrophage (AM) maturation and maintenance.
Although GM-CSF was discovered as a myelopoietic growth factor, it has diverse additional
effects that both promote differentiation of myeloid precursors into neutrophils, monocytes,
and dendritic cells and control function of mature myeloid cells. GM-CSF is also known to
reverse immunoparalysis seen in sepsis, resulting in beneficial outcomes. In addition, GM-CSF
prevents bacteremia in post influenza bacterial pneumonia through locally mediated improved
lung antibacterial resistance and increased reactive oxygen species production by AMs.
Pulmonary delivery of this GM-CSF has potential to reduce morbidity and mortality due to
viral pneumonias, potentially including COVID-19.
Drug: Sargramostim
All patients randomized to the sargramostim treatment arm will be treated with 250 mcg inhaled sargramostim administered via a vibrating mesh nebulizer once daily for 5 days.
Other Name: Array
Drug: Placebo
All patients in the control arm will receive an equivalent volume of inhaled placebo diluent administered via a vibrating mesh nebulizer once daily for 5 days.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Patients with a positive laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by an antigen or
a molecular test ≤5 days prior to randomization. The test should have been authorized
by the relevant regulatory authority.
2. Have one or more of the following mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms for ≤5 days prior
to randomization:
1. Fever or chills
2. New onset or worsening cough
3. Sore throat
4. Malaise or fatigue
5. Headache
6. Muscle pain (myalgias) or body aches
7. Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
8. New onset or worsening shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
9. Nasal congestion or runny nose
10. New loss of taste (ageusia) and/or smell (anosmia). Note: any of these symptoms
(ageusia, anosmia) alone or in combination cannot be used as the SOLE qualifying
symptoms for enrollment.
3. At higher risk for progression to more severe COVID-19
1. Age ≥ 60 years
2. Age 18-59 years with a clinically stable medical history of at least 1 or more of
the following conditions that could lead to severe COVID-19:
- Chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis
- Obesity with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2
- Cardiovascular disease
- Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Diabetes mellitus being managed with concomitant medications
- Hypertension being managed with concomitant medications
- Chronic kidney disease
4. Oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter > 93% on room air. Note: at altitudes of >4000
feet above sea level, oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter > 91% on room air is
permitted
5. Negative pregnancy test (if woman of childbearing potential)
6. Females of childbearing potential and males with female partners of childbearing
potential must agree to use acceptable contraceptive methods from screening to Day 28
7. The patient (or legally authorized decision maker) must give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Hospitalized patients
2. Patients who have received or are receiving other treatments that are not
approved/authorized by the relevant regulatory authority for the treatment of patients
with mild or moderate COVID-19 in an outpatient setting
3. Patients enrolled in interventional clinical trials for other experimental therapies
4. Patients on chronic oxygen supplementation due to cardiopulmonary or other conditions
5. Patients with unstable comorbid conditions (e.g., decompensated congestive heart
failure, COPD with exacerbation, current angina pectoris, uncontrolled diabetes
mellitus, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled asthma)
6. Patients with severe pulmonary comorbid conditions, including systemic
steroid-dependent asthma, systemic steroid-dependent COPD, oxygen-dependent COPD, lung
transplant, or cystic fibrosis
7. Patients who have received highly immunosuppressive therapy (to include systemic
corticosteroids) or anti-cancer combination chemotherapy within 24 hours prior to
first dose of study drug
8. Patients with known or suspected intolerance or hypersensitivity to sargramostim, or
any component of the product
9. Patients who have previously experienced severe and unexplained side effects during
aerosol delivery of any kind of medical product
10. Pregnant or breastfeeding females
11. Patients who, in the opinion of the Investigator, will not be able to comply with all
the study procedures and visits as outlined in the schedule of events, including
follow-up
West Valley Research Clinic, LLC
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Applied Research Center of Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Hope Clinical Research
Canoga Park, California, United States
Benchmark Research
Colton, California, United States
Synergy Healthcare
Bradenton, Florida, United States
Invesclinic US, LLC.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Indago Research & Health Center, Inc. (Subject Visits Only)
Hialeah, Florida, United States
Encore Medical Research
Hollywood, Florida, United States
IMIC Inc.
Palmetto Bay, Florida, United States
Encore Medical Research of Weston
Weston, Florida, United States
Gwinnett Research Institute, LLC
Buford, Georgia, United States
Paramount Research Solutions
College Park, Georgia, United States
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, Inc.
Salisbury, Maryland, United States
Revive Research Institute, Inc.
Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States
Revival Research Institute, LLC.
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Olive Branch Family Medical Center
Olive Branch, Mississippi, United States
Great Plains Health
North Platte, Nebraska, United States
Excel Clinical Research
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Richmond University Medical Center
Staten Island, New York, United States
Monroe Biomedical Research
Monroe, North Carolina, United States
Hometown Urgent Care and Research
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Hometown Urgent Care and Research
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Urgent Care Specialists, LLC DBA Hometown Urgent Care and Research
Dayton, Ohio, United States
TruCare Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease
DuBois, Pennsylvania, United States
Urgent Care Clinical Trials @ AFC Urgent Care - Easley
Easley, South Carolina, United States
University Diabetes & Endocrine Consultants
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
UCCT @ City Doc Urgent Care-McKinney
Dallas, Texas, United States
Invesclinic US LLC
Edinburg, Texas, United States
Dorrington Medical Associates
Houston, Texas, United States
Encore Imaging & Medical Research
Houston, Texas, United States
SMS Clinical Research, LLC
Mesquite, Texas, United States
Novotrial Research Group
Pearland, Texas, United States
Sun Research Institute
San Antonio, Texas, United States
University of Utah Health
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Centro de Investigaciones Medicas Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Instituto Medico de la Fundacion Estudios Clinicos
Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Sanatorio Santa Barbara
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fiona Garner, PhD, Study Director
Partner Therapeutics, Inc.