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Study of Oral Administration of Ribavirin and Nitazoxamide Versus Placebo in COVID-19

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Study Comparing the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Oral Administration of Ribavirin (RBV) and Nitazoxamide (NTZ)Versus Placebo in SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infected Participants (DuACT)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04563208
Acronym
DuACT
Enrollment
80
Registered
2020-09-24
Start date
2020-12-09
Completion date
2022-02-28
Last updated
2022-07-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Covid19, SARS-CoV Infection

Keywords

Ribavirin, Nitazoxanide, SARS-CoV-2

Brief summary

This is a single center, randomized, double-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group study of DuACT in participants with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 that have begun within the past 72 hours prior to testing.

Detailed description

This is a single center, randomized, double-blind, 2-arm, parallel-group study of DuACT in participants with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 that have begun within the past 72 hours prior to testing. A confirmatory diagnosis of COVID-19 via nasopharyngeal swab, with a positive PCR result within 48 hours of testing. Consented participants who complete screening and meet study eligibility criteria will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive DuACT or Placebo for 5 days. Study drugs will be administered BID for 5 days with a loading dose on Day 1. Following randomization, participants will complete a symptom questionnaire, record temperature and record oxygen saturation daily for 10 days and at day 28. A thermometer and pulse oximeter will be provided to each patient at the baseline visit (Day 1). On study days 3, 6 and 10 participants will have a clinic or home visit by a home healthcare provider. At these visits, a mid-turbinate nasal swab will be obtained, confirmation of the patient's clinical symptoms questionnaire will be completed and any adverse events will be assessed.

Interventions

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo administered on Days 1-5

DRUGDuACT

Day1: RBV 600 mg BID and NTZ 500 mg BID Days 2-5: RBV 400 mg BID and NTZ 500 mg BID

Sponsors

SynaVir
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Masking description

Double-blind

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Signed a current EC approved informed consent form 2. Male or female participants between 18 and 75 years of age, inclusive diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with all of the following, with onset of any within the 72 hours prior to testing: 1. Presence of fever at time of screening of ≥ 38.0°C (≥ 100.0°F) and/or 2. Presence of at least one constitutional symptom associated with Covid-19 (e.g. headache, myalgia, malaise, or fatigue, rash, diarrhea, loss or alteration of taste/smell) of any severity, and/or 3. Presence of at least one respiratory symptom (e.g. cough, chest tightness or sore throat) and/or 3. Diagnosis of COVID-19 with a positive PCR in the past 48 hours

Exclusion criteria

1. Pregnant or lactating females 2. Critically ill with presence of one or more of the following signs: 1. difficulty breathing or shortness of breath 2. need for admission to a hospital or an intensive care unit, 3. acute respiratory failure requiring intubation/mechanical ventilation, 4. signs of shock including hypotension 5. Oxygen saturation \< 92 % 3. Any clinically significant screening laboratory results that are greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal. 4. Estimated GFR \< 50 mL/min/1.73 m2 (calculated using either Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) or Cockcroft Gualt 5. Known genetic hemoglobinopathy (e.g., thalassemia major or sickle cell anemia) or autoimmune hemolytic anemia 6. Hemoglobin less than 10 gm/dL or hematocrit \< 30 % 7. Retinal eye disease 8. Known chronic kidney disease, stage - 5 or receiving dialysis 9. Inability to tolerate oral medications 10. Allergy or prior adverse reaction to either ribavirin or nitazoxanide 11. QTc interval \> 450 mSEC for men and women 12. History of Torsade de Pointes VT or prior cardiac arrest or congenital long QT interval 13. Current treatment with histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and/or Protein Pump Inhibitors and throughout the study. 14. Have been vaccinated against COVID-19 15. Have participated in a clinical study in the past 30 days 16. Any physical, mental, or social condition, drug/alcohol use, history of illness or laboratory abnormality that in the investigator's judgment might interfere with study procedures or the ability of the subject to adhere to and complete the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of decline in viral load10 daysRate of decline in viral load over the 10 days after randomization between participants treated with RBV and NTZ for COVID-19 and placebo

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of subjects with treatment emergent adverse events28 daysProportion of subjects with treatment emergent adverse events leading to study drug discontinuation
Time to resolution of viral load28 daysTime to resolution of viral load, defined by reduction of virus below LLOQ and maintaining it for 2 days.
Comparison of proportion of subjects who are asymptomatic and symptomatic10 daysComparison of proportion of subjects who are asymptomatic and symptomatic at day 10
Rate of decline in viral loadDays 3 and 6To assess the rate of decline in viral load over days 3 and 6 after randomization
Change in modified NEWS-228 daysAssess change in modified National Early Warning System-2 items on a scale of 0 to 20. HIgher scores meaning greater clinical risk.

Countries

South Africa

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 14, 2026