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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04552483

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

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.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, 21941902, Brazil

About this study

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).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Nitazoxanide

Drug

Nitazoxanide 500mg 8/8 hours for 5 days in the early clinical phase of COVID-19.

Other names: azox, annita, irose, tanisea, trinida, zoxany

Placebo

Drug

Placebo 8/8 hours for 5 days in the early clinical phase of COVID-19.

Primary outcomes

  1. Days with fever

    Time frame: Day8

    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.

  2. Days with cough

    Time frame: Day8

    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.

  3. Days with asthenia

    Time frame: Day8

    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 outcomes

  1. SARS-COV-2 viral load - absolute number

    Time frame: Day1

    Compare the evolution of viral load in naso- and oropharyngeal swab in patients with COVID-19 treated with nitazoxanide or placebo on day 1; verified using the RT-PCR technique; quantified by the absolute number

  2. SARS-COV-2 viral load - absolute number

    Time frame: Day8

    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.

  3. SARS-COV-2 viral load - percentage

    Time frame: Day 1

    Compare the evolution of viral load in naso- and oropharyngeal swab in patients with COVID-19 treated with nitazoxanide or placebo on day 1; verified using the RT-PCR technique; quantified by the percentage change between the two groups.

  4. SARS-COV-2 viral load - percentage

    Time frame: Day 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.

  5. Hospital admission rate - absolute number

    Time frame: Day8

    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.

  6. Hospital admission rate - percentage

    Time frame: Day8

    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.

  7. Serum Interleukin-6

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  8. Serum Interleukin-6

    Time frame: Day 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.

  9. Serum Interleukin-1-beta

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  10. Serum Interleukin-1-beta

    Time frame: Day 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.

  11. Serum Interleukin-8

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  12. Serum Interleukin-8

    Time frame: Day 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.

  13. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  14. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa

    Time frame: Day 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.

  15. Serum interferon-gamma

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  16. Serum interferon-gamma

    Time frame: Day 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.

  17. Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by the measurement of cytokines in patient serum by the ELISA technique; quantified by the absolute number between the two groups.

  18. Serum monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1

    Time frame: Day 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.

  19. Complete blood count

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the absolute number between the two groups.

  20. Complete blood count

    Time frame: Day 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.

  21. C-reactive protein - absolute number

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the absolute number between the two groups.

  22. C-reactive protein - absolute number

    Time frame: Day 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.

  23. C-reactive protein - percentage

    Time frame: Day 3

    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 3; verified by laboratory tests and expressed by the percentage between the two group.

  24. C-reactive protein - percentage

    Time frame: Day 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.

Other outcomes

  1. Adverse events - percentage

    Time frame: Day 8

    Assess the incidence and profile of adverse events reported throughout the study, by treatment group; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by percentage.

  2. Adverse events - absolute number

    Time frame: Day8

    Assess the incidence and profile of adverse events reported throughout the study, by treatment group; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by absolute number.

  3. Treatment discontinuation rate - absolute number

    Time frame: Day8

    Assess the rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by absolute number.

  4. Treatment discontinuation rate - percentage

    Time frame: Day8

    Assess the rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events; verified by information actively collected from patients or family members; quantified by percentage.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Other

Collaborators

  • ATCGen
  • Complexo Hospitalar Municipal de São Caetano do Sul
  • Hospital de Transplante Doutor Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini
  • Hospital e Maternidade Therezinha de Jesus
  • Ministry of Science and Technology, Brazil
  • National Research Council, Brazil
  • Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Sorocaba
  • Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Bauru
  • Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Guarulhos
  • Secretaria de Estado de Saúde do Distrito Federal

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Nitazoxanide Administration to Patients in the Initial Phase of COVID-19

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Sep 17, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 3, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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