COVID-19 Clinical Trials and Expanded Access

This is an open label clinical study to evaluate the activity of chloroquine phosphate in patients with SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The study aims to document possible prevention of pneumonia in patients staying at home and in improving the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in patients who will be hospitalised.

We will evaluate low-dose pyridostigmine as add-on therapy to best medical care in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its related Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require hospitalization. Our hypothesis is that, in comparison to the placebo, pyridostigmine will reduce in at least 10% a composite outcome [death; mechanical ventilation; >2 point-increase in the SOFA score) by day 28. We will also evaluate interleukin (IL)-6 kinetics during the first 14 days of in-hospital stay. It is estimated that 25-33% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 are admitted to intensive care units (ICU) for severe hypoxemia. The reported mortality in those with severe disease ranges between 38% and 49%. So far, there is no pharmacological therapeutic (or else) strategy known to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients. Mortality in COVID-19 appears to be mediated not necessarily by the direct effect of the infection, but by the disproportionate inflammatory response of the host. Pyridostigmine is an old drug that, by inhibiting acetylcholine-esterase, the enzymatic machinery that degrades acetylcholine (ACh), results in increased ACh bioavailability. ACh, in turn, ligates to nicotinic-alpha7 receptors in macrophages and T cells, resulting in reduced overactivation of these immune cells. In experimental murine sepsis, this family of drugs has resulted in reduced inflammation and mortality. Human evidence is scarce for severe inflammatory conditions. However, recent evidence from our group and others indicates that pyridostigmine has an immunomodulatory effect in people living with HIV, resulting in elevation of CD4+ T cell counts, decreased immune activation, and reduction in inflammatory mediators. Altogether, this suggests that ACh-esterase inhibitors may act as immunomodulators during viral infections, potentially reducing the inflammatory cascade (the so-called "cytokine storm") observed in critically ill COVID-19 patients. At the proposed dose (60mg/d), the rate of minor adverse events is less than 5% with no reported serious adverse effects. From that perspective, we consider that pyridostigmine can function as an immuno-modulator and reduce morbidity and mortality in COVID-19-stricken patients, with the added value of a safe pharmacological profile. Moreover, as an old drug, re-purposing it for a novel indication may be a simpler, more efficient approach than developing a novel one from the ground up.

The purpose of this study is to find out if transfusion of blood plasma containing antibodies against COVID-19 (anti-SARS-CoV-2), which were donated from a patient who recovered from COVID-19 infection, is safe and can treat COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Antibodies are blood proteins produced by the body in response to a virus and can remain in the person's bloodstream (plasma) for a long time after they recover. Transferring plasma from a person who recovered from COVID-19 may help neutralize the virus in sick patients' blood, and/or reduce the chances of the infection getting worse.

Infection with the SARS-Cov-2 virus, responsible of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS), is an emerging infectious disease called Covid-19 and declared as pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. This pandemic is responsible of significant mortality. In France, several thousand patients are hospitalized in intensive care units, and their number continues to increase. Mortality during Covid-19 is mainly linked to acute respiratory distress syndrome, which frequency is estimated in France to occur in 6% of infected patients. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular conditions, obesity and diabetes increase susceptibility to severe forms of Covid-19 and associated mortality. Therapeutic management has three components: symptomatic management, including supplementary oxygen therapy and in case of respiratory distress mechanical ventilation; the antiviral approach; and immunomodulation, aiming at reducing inflammation associated with viral infection, which is considered to take part in severe presentations of the disease. During Covid-19 viral pneumonia related to SARS-COv-2, there is a significant release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the acute phase of viral infection, which could participate in viral pneumonia lesions. In children with less mature immune system than adults, SARS-Cov-2 infection is less severe. The current prevailing assumption is that severe forms of Covid-19 may not only be related to high viral replication, but also to an excessive inflammatory response favoring acute lung injury and stimulating infection. The investigators hypothesize that early control of the excessive inflammatory response may help reducing the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The investigators will evaluate the benefit, safety and tolerability of corticosteroid therapy to reduce the rate of subjects hospitalized for Covid-19 viral pneumonia who experience clinical worsening with a need of high-flow supplemental oxygen supplementation or transfer in intensive care units for respiratory support.

Several patients with hypoxaemic SARS-CoV2 pneumonia were able to benefit from hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in China. In a clinical case published in the Chinese journal of hyperbaric medicine, treatment with repeated HBO sessions prevented admission to intensive care unit with mechanical ventilation in a patient aged 69 who presented with signs of respiratory decompensation. HBOT is the most powerful oxygenation modality in the body today. HBOT can dramatically increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in the blood. HBOT not only promotes blood transport but also its tissue delivery. Furthermore, HBOT has specific immunomodulatory properties, both humoral and cellular, making it possible, for example, to reduce the intensity of the inflammatory response and to stimulate antioxidant defenses by repeating sessions. A virucidal capacity of HBOT might also be involved. HBOT is generally regarded as safe with very few adverse events. Following this feedback, it is proposed in the context of crisis management related to SARS-CoV2 to assess the value of HBO treatment of patients with CoV2 pneumonia. Indeed, it seems essential to propose therapeutic strategies to limit the risk of respiratory decompensation requiring admission to intensive care unit for patients with SARS-CoV2 pneumonia.

CCAP is an investigator-initiated multicentre, randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled trial, which aims to assess the safety and efficacy of treatment with convalescent plasma for patients with moderate-severe COVID-19. Participants will be randomized 2:1 to two parallel treatment arms: Convalescent plasma, and intravenous placebo. Primary outcome is a composite endpoint of all-cause mortality or need of invasive mechanical ventilation up to 28 days.

The prone position consists of placing the patient on his or her stomach with the head on the side, during sessions lasting several hours a day and could help spontaneous ventilate the patient.

Prospective randomized trial to assess the antiviral efficacy of Pegylated Interferon Lambda (180 mcg SC injection) vs.placebo in up to 20 subjects with COVID-19 infection.

Why is the research needed? The pandemic known as COVID-19 is now spreading across the world with currently (April 10, 2020) more than 1 115 530 active cases and 96 791 deaths. In most affected countries the current goal is to 'flatten the curve' of the epidemic since there is no health care system that is able to treat an extremely high volume of patients all at once. There is a need for immediately applicable treatments for the patients at highest risk, which gains time until targeted therapies become available. A key feature in the pathomechanism of the disease is that the virus elicits an immunological over-reaction in the human body termed 'cytokine storm'. In susceptible patients this hyper-inflammation itself is a significant burden and may even inhibit the body to generate antibodies against the virus in adequate quantities. Therefore, identifying the subset of patients with excess cytokine response and supplementing them with convalescent plasma from recovered donors may be a life-saving treatment option. What is our study about? In light of recent promising data on plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID-19 and other viral epidemics, there is a need for better understanding the cytokine response to the virus in order to better characterize the target population for convalescent plasma therapy. Our hypothesis is that convalescent plasma transfusion from healthy donors who recovered from SARS CoV-2 is able to reduce the cytokine storm in addition to replenish the patient's own antibodies in the acutely infected phase of the disease. A plasmapheresis donation of 400ml will be performed in subjects who recovered from COVID-19 and who are otherwise eligible for plasma donation. The sample will be tested for anti-SARS CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers and those that reach the level of 1:320 will be processed for transfusion at the Hungarian National Transfusion Service. Recipients will be COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization regardless of the severity of the disease or other co-morbidities. A blood-type matched transfusion of 200 ml convalescent plasma will be infused in a single sitting through an iv. infusion of 4 hours. Recipients will be followed up at days 1, 3,7,12, 17, 28 for clinical symptoms, antibody levels and cytokine response.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. There is currently no vaccine to prevent Covid-19 or infection with SARS-CoV-2 or therapeutic agent to treat COVID-19. This protocol CORIMUNO19-COAG will evaluate the efficacy and safety of active anticoagulation using heparin: Tinzaparin (INNOHEP®) or unfractionated heparin (Calciparine®, Héparine Sodique Choay®) in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in conventional or intensive care units. It will use a phase 2 randomized open-label multicentre clinical trial, where patients will be randomly allocated to anticoagulation versus Standard of Care.