Defibrotide for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19

This study is a prospective, single-arm, two-cohort, phase 2 pilot study that will evaluate the safety and efficacy of defibrotide in clinically severe COVID-19. The defibrotide dose that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of post-HSCT VOD/SOS (6.25 mg/kg IV q6 hours) will be used.

Cohort 1 will consist of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by PCR and radiography, who are hospitalized with an oxygen requirement (either supplemental O2 or mechanical ventilation), are not on therapeutic dose anticoagulation, and require no more than one vasopressive agent to maintain hemodynamic stability. Cohort 2 will consist of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by PCR and radiography, who are hospitalized in the ICU and are at elevated risk of hemorrhage and/or hypotension, the former defined as a requirement for therapeutic dose anticoagulation for active thrombosis, ECMO, or CRRT, and the latter defined as a requirement for two vasopressive agents to maintain hemodynamic stability.

In cohort 2 only, a 6+6 dose de-escalation design will be utilized, in which if 2 of 6 DLTs are experienced in the first 6 subjects, the dose will be reduced from 6.25 mg/kg IV q6hrs to 10mg/kg/d CIVI. If there are 0 or 1 DLTs in the first 6 subjects at the FDA-approved dose, another 6 subjects will be enrolled at the same dose. Grade 3/4 hemorrhage and significant new hypotension will be considered DLT's.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥18 years.
• Active COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR.
• Radiographic evidence of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates.
• A life expectancy of at least 24 hours.
• Score of 4-7 on the WHO ordinal scale.
• Prophylactic dose anticoagulation is allowed for enrollment into cohort 1. Therapeutic dose anticoagulation for active thrombosis, ECMO, and/or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is allowed for enrollment into cohort 2 if there is no evidence of bleeding after at least 24 hours of anticoagulation.
• Patient or surrogate able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Clinically significant acute bleeding.
• Concomitant use of thrombolytic therapy (e.g. t-PA).
• Hemodynamic instability, defined as a requirement for >1 vasopressor agent for enrollment into cohort 1, and a requirement for >2 vasopressor agents for enrollment into cohort 2
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to DF.
• Pregnant or lactating.