COVID-19 Clinical Trials and Expanded Access

This observational study is designed to assess whether focused lung ultrasound examination can improve the diagnosis of COVID-19 lung disease and/or make an alternative diagnosis at a patient's initial hospital presentation. For patients with confirmed COVID-19 the study will also assess whether surveillance lung ultrasound examination can predict clinical outcome over the course of their hospital admission.

Patients with COVID-19 usually present in the ED and receive their initial medical check-up here. We will try to gather information of comorbidities and other conditions at the time of presentation of COVID-19 patients to the ED. The course of the disease prior to admission as well as the momentary health status at presentation to the ED are of interest because they influence risk stratification and decision-making of treating physicians. The ratio of patients with mild or moderate to severe symptoms will help to calculate the need for hospital beds including beds on Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Intermediate Care Units (IMC), as well as the need for other hospital resources.

The aim of the COVI-PRONE Trial is to determine if early awake prone positioning in COVID-19 patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure; irrespective of the mode of oxygen delivery; reduces the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.

To treat Pakistani patients with non-life threatening symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection with an intent to reduce burden on institutional healthcare services by determining efficacy of different chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine dosing regimens in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Faviprevir in COVID-19 treatment

COVID-19 is associated with a cytokine storm that leads to respiratory distress, multiorgan failure and elevated mortality. Oral colchicine exhibits high anti-inflammatory capacity attributed to the inhibition of microtubules polymerization, inflammasome and production of IL-1β and IL-6, which could prevent the inflammatory storm in COVID-19 patients at risk. We present a randomized clinical trial, controlled, open-label and pragmatic, including COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization but no intensive care yet. Colchicine will be started within the first 48 hours and then administered for four weeks using a descending dose. The benefit will be study in terms of clinical evolution (WHO 7-point scale) and IL-6 levels, as well as other clinical and biochemical secondary end-points. In the case of positive results, the clinical impact would be relevant given that this oral medication is widely accessible which would help to prevent the inflammatory complications associated with COVID-19.

In the context of quarantine with COVID-19, we wish to study the experience and psychological impact in adult patients living with osteoporosis.

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a single-stranded RNA coronavirus. The virus was first isolated from patients presented with pneumonia in Wuhan in December 2019. Sequences of the Wuhan betacoronavirus show similarities to betacoronaviruses found in bats, sharing a common ancestor with the 2003 SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the bat coronavirus HKU9, a virus found in fruit bats. Similar to SARS-CoV, it is a member of Beta-CoV lineage B. Five genomes of the novel coronavirus have been initially isolated and reported including BetaCoV/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-01/2019, BetaCoV/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-04/2020, BetaCoV/Wuhan/IVDC-HB-05/2019, BetaCoV/Wuhan/WIV04/2019, and BetaCoV/Wuhan/IPBCAMS-WH-01/2019 from the China CDC. The SARS-CoV-2 has since spread from China to the rest of the world. As of 5 April 2020, more than 1.05 million people been confirmed to have infected by SARS-CoV-2, resulting in more than 500,000 deaths. No specific antiviral treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 is currently available, but existing medication could be repurposed. Genetic sequencing demonstrated similarity of the SARS-CoV-2 to the SARS-CoV and MERS CoV.2 We expect patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 will also present similarly with initial upper respiratory tract symptoms including fever, cough, sputum, myalgia and shortness or breath. More severe cases might complicate with pneumonia and required ventilatory or ECMO support. According to our previous studies in 2003 on patients hospitalized for severe SARS-CoV, the viral load peaked between day 7 from symptoms onset and coincided with clinical deterioration of pneumonia and respiratory failure, with majority of the patients required intensive care support. Higher viral load isolated from different human system also correlated with worsened SARS manifestation and complications. Previously, the investigators have demonstrated that interferon-beta 1b, commonly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and lopinavir/ ritonavir, also demonstrated to improve the outcome of MERS-CoV infection in a non-human primate model of common marmoset. A non-randomized trial has also suggested that a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin might be effective in suppressing SARS-CoV-2 viral load in patients, despite in-vitro activity was only found in hydroxychloroquine. Therefore, the investigators propose to conduct an open-label randomized controlled trial on a short course of interferon β-1b and hydroxychloroquine combination treatment for patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection.

As of 30/03/2020, 715600 people have been infected with COVID-19 worldwide and 35500 people died, essentially due to respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) complicated in 25% of the with acute renal failure. No specific pharmacological treatment is available yet. The lung lesions are related to both the viral infection and to an intense inflammatory reaction. Because of it's action, as an immunomodulatory agent that can attenuate the inflammatory reaction and also strengthen the antiviral response, it is proposed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intravenous immunoglobulin administration (IGIV) in patients developing ARDS post-SARS-CoV2. IGIV modulates immunity, and this effect results in a decrease of pro-inflammatory activity, key factor in the ARDS related to the COVID-19. It should be noted that IGIV is part of the treatments in various diseases such as autoimmune and inflammatory diffuse interstitial lung diseases. In addition, they have been beneficial in the post-influenza ARDS but also have been in 3 cases of post-SARS-CoV2 ARDS. IGIV is a treatment option because it is well tolerated, especially concerning the kidney. These elements encourage a placebo-controlled trial testing the benefit of IGIV in ARDS post-SARS-CoV2.

This is an international, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, study in hospitalized adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, India, Canada, and United Kingdom. The study is evaluating the effect of dapagliflozin 10 milligrams versus placebo, given once daily for 30 days in addition to background local standard of care therapy, on reducing complications and all-cause mortality, or improving clinical recovery.