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Effects of Early Use of Nitazoxanide in Patients With COVID-19

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Covid19
Coronavirus
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT04552483
Lead Sponsor
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Brief Summary

Multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, blinded, interventional, treatment clinical trial with two arms.

Population: 392 Patients with COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19), confirmed by RT-PCR (Real Time polymerase chain reaction), symptomatic in the early phase of the disease.

Experimental group: 196 patients, nitazoxanide 500mg 8 / 8 hours for 5 days. Control group: 196 patients, placebo 8/8 hours for 5 days.

Detailed Description

SARITA-2 is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, -blinded, interventional, treatment clinical trial with two arms, which aims to study the impact of nitazoxanide in the early phase of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19).

Experimental group: 196 patients received nitazoxanide 500mg 8 / 8 hours for 5 days. Control group: 196 patients received placebo 8/8 hours for 5 days.

Population: 392 Patients with COVID-19, confirmed by RT-PCR (Real Time polymerase chain reaction), symptomatic in the early phase of the disease.

Calculation of the sample size was based on a previous study which demonstrated that 78% of Covid-19 patients in group 4 (Hospitalized without oxygen therapy), according to the WHO ordinal classification, experienced complete resolution of symptoms after receiving placebo.10 In the present trial, patients were classified as group 2 (Symptomatic and independent), and a greater degree of recovery as measured by symptom-free days (80%) was expected even after placebo. Thus, assuming an 11% increase in symptom-free days in those patients who would receive nitazoxanide compared to placebo, we would need approximately 196 patients per experimental group, admitting a beta error of 15% and alpha error of 5%, for a total n of 392 patients. Calculation of the sample size was done by G\*Power 3.1.9.2 (Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
392
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical scenario compatible with infection by the SARS-CoV-2 [Characteristic symptoms of COVID-19 (fever and / or cough and / or fatigue)
  • Beginning 1 to 3 days before inclusion in the study
  • Age equal or superior to 18 years
  • Willingness to receive study treatment
  • Providing written and informed consent or the same consent signed by a family member
Exclusion Criteria
  • Negative result of RT-PCR for SARS-COV2 collected on admission
  • Impossibility to use oral medications
  • History of severe liver disease (Child Pugh C class)
  • Previous renal failure
  • Severe heart failure (NYHA 3 or 4)
  • COPD (GOLD 3 and 4)
  • Neoplasia in the last 5 years
  • Known autoimmune disease
  • Individuals with known hypersensitivity to study drug
  • Previous treatment with the study medication during the last 30 days
  • Clinical suspicion of tuberculosis and bacterial pneumonia

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlaceboPatients received placebo 500mg 8/8hours, for 5 days.
NitazoxanideNitazoxanidePatients received nitazoxanide 500mg 8/8hours, for 5 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Days with coughDay8

Reduction in the duration of cough of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide compared to patients treated with placebo; verified through the collection of information with the patient; quantified by the number of days that presented the symptom.

Days with feverDay8

Reduction in the duration of fever of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide compared to patients treated with placebo; verified through the collection of information with the patient; quantified by the number of days that presented the symptom.

Days with astheniaDay8

Reduction in the duration of asthenia of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide compared to patients treated with placebo; verified through the collection of information with the patient; quantified by the number of days that presented the symptom.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hospital admission rate - absolute numberDay8

Compare the hospital admission rate of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, in the period of 8 days; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by absolute number.

C-reactive protein - absolute numberDay 8

To evaluate the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the absolute number between the two groups.

SARS-COV-2 viral load - absolute numberDay8

Compare the evolution of viral load in naso- and oropharyngeal swab in patients with COVID-19 treated with nitazoxanide or placebo on day 8; verified using the RT-PCR technique; quantified by the absolute number.

SARS-COV-2 viral load - percentageDay 8

Compare the evolution of viral load in naso- and oropharyngeal swab in patients with COVID-19 treated with nitazoxanide or placebo on day 8; verified using the RT-PCR technique; quantified by the percentage change between the two groups.

Complete blood countDay 8

Evaluate evolution of complete blood count with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the absolute number between the two groups.

Hospital admission rate - percentageDay8

Compare the hospital admission rate of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, in the period of 8 days; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by percentage.

Serum Interleukin-1-betaDay 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: IL-1-beta from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

Serum Interleukin-8Day 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: IL-8 from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1Day 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

C-reactive protein - percentageDay 8

To evaluate the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the percentage between the two groups.

Serum Interleukin-6Day 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: (interleukin \[IL\] -6 from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfaDay 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

Serum interferon-gammaDay 8

Compare the levels of inflammatory mediators: interferon-gamma from patients with COVID-19 submitted to the therapeutic protocol with nitazoxanide with patients with COVID-19 treated with placebo, on day 8; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

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