Epstein-Barr Virus Suppression in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (EViSCO): a Phase 2 Randomised Control Trial

Summary

COPD is a major public health problem and will shortly become the third most common cause of global mortality. There are currently no treatments that can meaningfully alter the progression of COPD or the time to death. Consequently novel therapeutic strategies for COPD are urgently required. This will be a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, trial of Epstein-Barr virus suppression in COPD. Participants will be randomised to receive valaciclovir 1 gram three times daily for 8 weeks or matching placebo. The study will measure EBV suppression using quantitative PCR. Secondary outcomes will include Lung function quality of life and drug tolerability. The exploratory analysis will evaluate biomarkers of airway inflammation within the sputum and blood.

Timeline

Start

2018-10-11

Primary completion

2020-05-07

Completion

2020-07-01

Publications

• Linden DA, Guo-Parke H, McKelvey MC, Einarsson GG, Lee AJ, Fairley DJ, Brown V, Lundy G, Campbell C, Logan D, McFarland M, Singh D, McAuley DF, Taggart CC, Kidney JC. Valaciclovir for Epstein-Barr Virus Suppression in Moderate-to-Severe COPD: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. Chest. 2023 Sep;164(3):625-636. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2023.03.040. Epub 2023 Apr 1.

Drugs

Indications