COVID-19 Clinical Trials and Expanded Access

This phase II expanded access trial will study how well tocilizumab works in reducing the serious symptoms including pneumonitis (severe acute respiratory distress) in patients with cancer and COVID-19. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. COVID-19 can be associated with an inflammatory response by the immune system which may also cause symptoms of COVID-19 to worsen. This inflammation may be called "cytokine storm," which can cause widespread problems in the body. Tocilizumab is a medicine designed to block the action of a protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6) that is involved with the immune system and is known to be a key factor for problems with excessive inflammation. Tocilizumab is effective in treating "cytokine storm" from a type of cancer immunotherapy and may be effective in reducing the inflammatory response and "cytokine storm" seen in severe COVID-19 disease. Treating the inflammation may help to reduce symptoms, improve the ability to breathe without a breathing machine (ventilator), and prevent patients from having more complications.

This study is designed to compare the efficacy of detection of COVID-19 infection using the serology test in blood sample and the PCR-based test in the nasopharyngeal (NP) and sputum sample. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the temporal trend of appearance of IgM and IgG in blood.

A novel betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is spreading rapidly throughout the world. A large epidemic in South Africa may overwhelm available hospital capacity and healthcare resources which would be worsened by absenteeism of healthcare workers and other frontline staff (HCW). Strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality of HCW are desperately needed to safeguard continuous patient care. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), with protective non-specific effects against other respiratory tract infections in in vitro and in vivo studies, with reported morbidity and mortality reductions as high as 70%. We hypothesize that a BCG vaccination may reduce the morbidity and mortality of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa.

This prospective phase I/IIa trial studies the side effects of rintatolimod and Intron A (IFNa) alpha-2b in treating cancer patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 infection. Interferon alpha is a protein important for defense against viruses. It activates immune responses that help to clear viral infection. Rintatolimod is double stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) designed to mimic viral infection by stimulating immune pathways that are normally activated during viral infection. Giving rintatolimod and interferon alpha-2b may activate the immune system to limit the replication and spread of the virus.

The study will aim to investigate the relation of platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) with other acute phase reactant c-reactive protein(CRP) in Coronavirus(COVID-19). As a methodology, patients will be selected in records in one month from the online hospital system. Two groups will be divided before as need for mechanical ventilation or not. The latter comparison will be about three groups as an ambulatory follow-up, hospital follow-up, and intensive care unit follow-up. Parameters will be analyzed according to the groups.

The investigators are conducting a national COVID-19 prevalence survey on a sample of 3,000 inhabitants that were randomly selected from the Slovenian population. The sample is representative in age, gender, and geographical distribution. The main objective is to assess how many people in Slovenia have COVID-19 in April/May 2020 and how many were infected with SARS-CoV-2 previously. The investigators are using a direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal samples with validated two-target PCR-based commercial assay. For a serological response to the etiological agent, IgG and IgA anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are measured in plasma samples using a validated commercial assay.

The aim of this project is to introduce way for treatment of patients with severe COVID-19 disease with respiratory complications.

To date, there is no vaccine or treatment with proven efficiency against COVID-19, and the transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be inferred by its identification in the oro-nasopharynx. The bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) has the potential for cross-protection against viral infections. This study evaluates the impact of previous (priming effect, from the titer of anti-BCG interferon-gamma) or current BCG exposure (boost with intradermal vaccine) on 1) clinical evolution of COVID-19; 2) elimination of SARS-CoV-2 at different times and disease phenotypes; and 3) seroconversion rate and titration (anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA, IgM, and IgG).

The COVID-19 Androgen Sensitivity Test is a non-invasive In-Vitro Diagnostic device that utilizes Next Generation Sequencing Technology (NGS). The results of the test are used by a physician to assess the risk of developing severe symptoms following COVID-19 infection, The COVID-19 Androgen Sensitivity Test requires a health care professional to collect a DNA sample using an FDA cleared DNA sample collection kit.

Prospective registry for multimodal assessment of neuromuscular pathology associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, enrolling consecutive patients with corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19), who are admitted to the intensive care unit of the department of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine, or the department of neurology at Tübingen University Hospital.