Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin for the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection

Summary

Background: In December 2019, patients with pneumonia secondary to a new subtype of Coronavirus (COVID-19) were identified in China. In a few weeks the virus spread and cases started practically all over the world. In February 2020, the WHO declared a pandemic. Severe symptoms have been found in patients mainly with comorbidities and over 50 years of age. At this time there is no proven therapeutic alternative. In vitro studies and observational experiences showed that antimalarial drugs (Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine) had antiviral activity and increased viral clearance. Ivermectin, on the other hand, has been shown in vitro to reduce viral replication and in an observational cohort, greater viral clearance with promising clinical results. So far there is no standard of treatment and clinical trials are needed to find effective treatment alternatives. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment with hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin for serious COVID-19 infections in no critical hospitalized patients. Material and methods: Randomized controlled trial of patients diagnosed with respiratory infection by COVID-19, who present criteria for hospitalization. Randomization will be performed to receive hydroxychloroquine at a dose of 400 mg every 12 hours for one day and then 200 mg every 12 hours, to complete a 5-day treatment schedule. Group 2: Ivermectin 12 mg every 24 hours for one day (less than 80 kg) or Ivermectin 18 mg every 24 hours for one day (greater than 80 kg) + placebo until the fifth day. Group 3: Placebo. Prior to randomization, the risk of cardiovascular complications determined by corrected QT interval, related to hydroxychloroquine intake will be assessed. If the patient is at high risk, the allocation will be to ivermectin only or to placebo in an independent randomization, if the risk is low, any of the three groups could be assigned. Outcomes: The primary outcome will be discharge from hospital for improvement. The safety outcomes will be requirement of mechanical intubation, septic shock or death. Viral clearance will also be evaluated by means of PCR, which will be taken on the 5th day after admission, day 14 and 21.

Timeline

Start

2020-05-04

Primary completion

2020-11-06

Completion

2020-11-06

Publications

• Background Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, Zhao X, Huang B, Shi W, Lu R, Niu P, Zhan F, Ma X, Wang D, Xu W, Wu G, Gao GF, Tan W; China Novel Coronavirus Investigating and Research Team. A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020 Feb 20;382(8):727-733. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001017. Epub 2020 Jan 24.
• Background Lv DF, Ying QM, Weng YS, Shen CB, Chu JG, Kong JP, Sun DH, Gao X, Weng XB, Chen XQ. Dynamic change process of target genes by RT-PCR testing of SARS-Cov-2 during the course of a Coronavirus Disease 2019 patient. Clin Chim Acta. 2020 Jul;506:172-175. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.03.032. Epub 2020 Mar 27.
• Background Munster VJ, Koopmans M, van Doremalen N, van Riel D, de Wit E. A Novel Coronavirus Emerging in China - Key Questions for Impact Assessment. N Engl J Med. 2020 Feb 20;382(8):692-694. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2000929. Epub 2020 Jan 24. No abstract available.
• Background Caly L, Druce JD, Catton MG, Jans DA, Wagstaff KM. The FDA-approved drug ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Antiviral Res. 2020 Jun;178:104787. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104787. Epub 2020 Apr 3.
• Background Gonzalez Canga A, Sahagun Prieto AM, Diez Liebana MJ, Fernandez Martinez N, Sierra Vega M, Garcia Vieitez JJ. The pharmacokinetics and interactions of ivermectin in humans--a mini-review. AAPS J. 2008;10(1):42-6. doi: 10.1208/s12248-007-9000-9. Epub 2008 Jan 25.
• Background Boldescu V, Behnam MAM, Vasilakis N, Klein CD. Broad-spectrum agents for flaviviral infections: dengue, Zika and beyond. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2017 Aug;16(8):565-586. doi: 10.1038/nrd.2017.33. Epub 2017 May 5.
• Background Wagstaff KM, Sivakumaran H, Heaton SM, Harrich D, Jans DA. Ivermectin is a specific inhibitor of importin alpha/beta-mediated nuclear import able to inhibit replication of HIV-1 and dengue virus. Biochem J. 2012 May 1;443(3):851-6. doi: 10.1042/BJ20120150.
• Background Yang SNY, Atkinson SC, Wang C, Lee A, Bogoyevitch MA, Borg NA, Jans DA. The broad spectrum antiviral ivermectin targets the host nuclear transport importin alpha/beta1 heterodimer. Antiviral Res. 2020 May;177:104760. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104760. Epub 2020 Mar 3.
• Background Ketkar H, Yang L, Wormser GP, Wang P. Lack of efficacy of ivermectin for prevention of a lethal Zika virus infection in a murine system. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 Sep;95(1):38-40. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2019.03.012. Epub 2019 Mar 29.
• Background Geleris J, Sun Y, Platt J, Zucker J, Baldwin M, Hripcsak G, Labella A, Manson DK, Kubin C, Barr RG, Sobieszczyk ME, Schluger NW. Observational Study of Hydroxychloroquine in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jun 18;382(25):2411-2418. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2012410. Epub 2020 May 7.
• Background Gautret P, Lagier JC, Parola P, Hoang VT, Meddeb L, Mailhe M, Doudier B, Courjon J, Giordanengo V, Vieira VE, Tissot Dupont H, Honore S, Colson P, Chabriere E, La Scola B, Rolain JM, Brouqui P, Raoult D. RETRACTED: Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of COVID-19: results of an open-label non-randomized clinical trial. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Jul;56(1):105949. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.105949. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

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