Telmisartan in Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19

Summary

Rationale: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) dysregulation may play a central role in the pathophysiology of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection associated acute lung injury (ALI) / acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In the RAAS, Angiotensin I (Ang I) is converted to angiotensin II (Ang II) by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Ang II mediates vasoconstrictive, pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative effects through agonism at Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R). ACE2 converts Ang II to angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7), which finally binds to Mas receptor (MasR) and mediates many beneficial actions, including vasodilation and anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antiapoptotic effects. ACE2, a homologue of ACE, is an integral cell membrane protein with a catalytic domain on the extracellular surface exposed to vasoactive peptides. SARS-CoV-2 penetrates the cell through ACE2, and the increase of this receptor (due to the use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers \[ARBs\]) may facilitate SARS-CoV-2 infection, which might increase the risk of developing severe and fatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, through upregulation of ACE2, ACE inhibitors/ARBs can exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects, which may be beneficial in preventing ALI and ARDS. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of telmisartan in respiratory failure due to COVID-19. Study design: This is an open label, phase 2 clinical trial. Study population: Adult hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (n=60). Intervention: The active-treatment arm will receive telmisartan 40 mg daily and the control arm will receive standard care. Treatment duration will be 14 days or up to hospital discharge \<14 days or occurrence of the primary endpoint if \<14 days. Main study endpoint: The primary study endpoint is the occurrence within 14 days of randomization of either: 1) Mechanical ventilation or 2) Death.

Timeline

Start

2020-08-12

Primary completion

2021-05-15

Completion

2021-05-25

Publications

• Background Rothlin RP, Vetulli HM, Duarte M, Pelorosso FG. Telmisartan as tentative angiotensin receptor blocker therapeutic for COVID-19. Drug Dev Res. 2020 Nov;81(7):768-770. doi: 10.1002/ddr.21679. Epub 2020 May 1.
• Background Sanchis-Gomar F, Lavie CJ, Perez-Quilis C, Henry BM, Lippi G. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 and Antihypertensives (Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors) in Coronavirus Disease 2019. Mayo Clin Proc. 2020 Jun;95(6):1222-1230. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.03.026. Epub 2020 Apr 4.
• Background Patel AB, Verma A. COVID-19 and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers: What Is the Evidence? JAMA. 2020 May 12;323(18):1769-1770. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.4812. No abstract available.
• Background Bavishi C, Maddox TM, Messerli FH. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection and Renin Angiotensin System Blockers. JAMA Cardiol. 2020 Jul 1;5(7):745-747. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2020.1282. No abstract available.
• Background Vaduganathan M, Vardeny O, Michel T, McMurray JJV, Pfeffer MA, Solomon SD. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 23;382(17):1653-1659. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr2005760. Epub 2020 Mar 30. No abstract available.

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Indications