Lactoferrin for Prevention of COVID-19 in Health Care Workers

Summary

Clinical trial in health care personnel (physicians, nurses or nurse assistants) to determine the effect of orally-administered bovine lactoferrin to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants will be randomized to receive daily bovine lactoferrin plus standard measures during 12 weeks or placebo (maltodextrine) for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2. The target enrollment is 336 participants. Each study participant will be monitored twice a week for symptoms of COVID-19 and if symptoms occur, a RT-PCR will be performed. Additionally, we will evaluate asymptomatic infections, by measuring SARS-CoV-2 serology every 4 weeks.

Timeline

Start

2020-10-17

Primary completion

2021-02-10

Completion

2021-02-10

Publications

• Background Legrand D. Overview of Lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator. J Pediatr. 2016 Jun;173 Suppl:S10-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.02.071.
• Background Baker HM, Baker EN. A structural perspective on lactoferrin function. Biochem Cell Biol. 2012 Jun;90(3):320-8. doi: 10.1139/o11-071. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
• Background Chang R, Ng TB, Sun WZ. Lactoferrin as potential preventative and adjunct treatment for COVID-19. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Sep;56(3):106118. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106118. Epub 2020 Jul 30.
• Background Lang J, Yang N, Deng J, Liu K, Yang P, Zhang G, Jiang C. Inhibition of SARS pseudovirus cell entry by lactoferrin binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycans. PLoS One. 2011;6(8):e23710. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023710. Epub 2011 Aug 22.
• Background Campione E, Cosio T, Rosa L, Lanna C, Di Girolamo S, Gaziano R, Valenti P, Bianchi L. Lactoferrin as Protective Natural Barrier of Respiratory and Intestinal Mucosa against Coronavirus Infection and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 11;21(14):4903. doi: 10.3390/ijms21144903.
• Background Mirabelli C, Wotring JW, Zhang CJ, McCarty SM, Fursmidt R, Frum T, Kadambi NS, Amin AT, O'Meara TR, Pretto CD, Spence JR, Huang J, Alysandratos KD, Kotton DN, Handelman SK, Wobus CE, Weatherwax KJ, Mashour GA, O'Meara MJ, Sexton JZ. Morphological Cell Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Identifies Drug Repurposing Candidates for COVID-19. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2020 Dec 7:2020.05.27.117184. doi: 10.1101/2020.05.27.117184.
• Background Marques de Carvalho CA, da Rocha Matos A, Caetano BC, de Sousa Junior IP, da Costa Campos SP, Geraldino BR, et al. In Vitro Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Bovine Lactoferrin [Internet]. Microbiology; 2020 May [cited 2020 May 25]. Available from: http://biorxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2020.05.13.093781
• Navarro R, Paredes JL, Tucto L, Medina C, Angles-Yanqui E, Nario JC, Ruiz-Cabrejos J, Quintana JL, Turpo-Espinoza K, Mejia-Cordero F, Aphang-Lam M, Florez J, Carrasco-Escobar G, Ochoa TJ. Bovine lactoferrin for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in health care personnel: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial (LF-COVID). Biometals. 2023 Jun;36(3):463-472. doi: 10.1007/s10534-022-00477-3. Epub 2022 Dec 7.

Drugs

Indications