Safety and Efficacy of Melatonin in Outpatients Infected With COVID-19 (COVID-19)

January 15, 2024 updated by: Margarita L. Dubocovich, PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo

A Pilot Placebo-controlled Randomized Double-blind Trial of Melatonin in Outpatients With COVID-19 Infection

This study is a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of melatonin in adult outpatients suspected to be afflicted with COVID-19.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study is a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of melatonin in outpatient adult patients suspected to be afflicted with COVID-19. Participants will be enrolled as outpatients within 72 hrs of onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The study will evaluate the safety of the intervention through 28 days of follow-up as compared to the control arm as assessed by cumulative incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs), cumulative incidence of Grade 3 and 4 adverse events (AEs), and/or discontinuation or temporary suspension of the investigational medication (for any reason). Additionally, the study will aim to evaluate the clinical efficacy of melatonin as compared to placebo as assessed by hospitalization, COVID-19 related symptoms and mortality. The ultimate goal is to determine in an adequately powered study if the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions of Melatonin can reduce the severity and prevent progression of COVID-19 when started in mild disease.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
8

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Margarita L Dubocovich, Ph.D.
  • Phone Number: (716) 829-3048
  • Email: mdubo@buffalo.edu

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14203
        • University at Buffalo

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or non-pregnant female adult ≥18 years of age at time of enrollment.
  • Women of childbearing potential must agree to use at least one primary form of contraception for the duration of the study.
  • Subject provides written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
  • Understands and agrees to comply with planned study procedures.
  • Agrees to the collection and storage of saliva samples per protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe chronic liver disease
  • Severe chronic kidney disease or requiring dialysis
  • Pregnancy or breast feeding.
  • Allergy to the study medication
  • Currently taking melatonin
  • Currently taking high dose (>500 mg/day) Vitamin C

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Control
Placebo capsules will be prepared with opaque gelatin capsules, filled using methylcellulose and over-encapsulated to appear identical to interventional drug. Placebo capsules will be given orally in the same regimen as intervention (three times daily for 14 days). Capsules will be prepared by the research pharmacist and will be mailed to study subjects directly by courier. Placebo capsules will be stored at room temperature.
Other: Placebo (Methylcellulose) capsule
Placebo capsules will be prepared with opaque gelatin capsules, filled using methylcellulose and over-encapsulated to appear identical to interventional drug. Placebo capsules will be given orally in the same regimen as intervention (three times daily for 14 days). Capsules will be prepared by the research pharmacist and will be mailed to study subjects directly by courier. Placebo capsules will be stored at room temperature.
Other Names:
  • Methylcellulose
Experimental: Melatonin
Melatonin will be administered orally as a 10 mg dose three times a day for 14 days. Size 4 clear vegetable cellulose capsules containing 10 mg melatonin, microcrystalline cellulose, and rice concentrate prepared by Life Extension® will be over-encapsulated in opaque gelatin capsules. Over-encapsulation of melatonin treatments will be done by the research pharmacist and will be mailed to study subjects directly by courier. Melatonin capsules will be stored at room temperature.
Drug: Melatonin
Melatonin will be administered orally as a 10 mg dose three times a day for 14 days. Size 4 clear vegetable cellulose capsules containing 10 mg melatonin, microcrystalline cellulose, and rice concentrate prepared by Life Extension® will be over-encapsulated in opaque gelatin capsules. Over-encapsulation of melatonin treatments will be done by the research pharmacist and will be mailed to study subjects directly by courier. Melatonin capsules will be stored at room temperature.
Other Names:
  • 5-methoxy-N-acetyl tryptamine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: 28 days
Evaluate the number of serious adverse effects and discontinuation secondary to toxicity through 28 days of follow-up as compared to the control arm as assessed by: Cumulative number of serious adverse events (SAEs), Cumulative number of Grade 3 and 4 adverse events (AEs), Discontinuation or temporary suspension of the investigational medication (for any reason).
28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mortality
Time Frame: 28 days
28-day mortality
28 days
Hospitalization
Time Frame: 28 days
Number of COVID-19 related hospitalizations at 28 days
28 days
COVID-19 Related Symptoms
Time Frame: 28 days
COVID-19 related symptoms (Fever, chills, cough, nasal symptoms, body aches/muscle aches, headache, loss of smell, loss of taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness) that are self-reported and on interview.
28 days
Rate of Resolution of COVID-19 Related Symptoms
Time Frame: 28 days
We designed a COVID-19 symptom scale. Participants rated 11 COVID related symptoms on a scale of 0-5. A maximum score of 55 would indicate the worst symptoms, while a score of 0 would indicate no symptoms. Change from baseline (day 1) in the total symptoms score was assessed on days 3, 7, 14, and 28.
28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
State University of New York at Buffalo

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Margarita L Dubocovich, Ph.D., University at Buffalo

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 6, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 22, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 22, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 15, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 15, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 16, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 7, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 15, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UBMELCOVID19

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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