Efficacy and Safety of Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19

An Open-Label, Multicenter, Parallel-Group, Randomized, Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19

This is an open-label, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, phase III trial that evaluates the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir in the treatment of patients with possible or confirmed COVID-19 observed within the last 5 days. 1000 patients will be randomized in 2:1:2:2:2:1 ratio and divided into six groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: COVID-19; Sars-CoV2
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg); Drug: Favipiravir (3600 mg + 1600 mg); Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg) combined with Hydroxychloroquine; Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg) combined with Azithromycin; Drug: Hydroxychloroquine; Drug: Hydroxychloroquine combined with Azithromycin

Detailed Description

The clinical picture of 2019-nCoV disease is in a broad spectrum, which includes asymptomatic infection, a mild upper respiratory tract infection, respiratory failure, and even severe viral pneumonia with death. Although the mortality rate is not yet clear, the reported case-fatality risk was 11-14% during the initial studies which included patients with severe disease. The overall case fatality rate was reported as approximately 2%. In addition, most cases have resulted in a pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen therapy and ventilator support. The alarming levels of spread and severity of COVID-19 caused a global emergency and this outbreak has been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The investigational product Favipiravir is an antiviral drug against RNA viruses and has been stated as effective for the treatment of COVID-19, first emerged from China, in various clinical studies. In February 2020, Favipiravir was used for the clinical treatment of COVID-19, has been shown to be more effective than the lopinavir / ritonavir combination in 80 people. In recent researches, the drug favipiravir is suggested that it may induce recovery in a short time in patients with COVID-19-mild type and decrease the treatment duration from 11 days to 4 days.

The investigational product hydroxychloroquine sulfate is a 4- aminoquinoline derivative and widely used for the treatment of many rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in addition to its antimalarial effects. In vitro studies reported that hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be effective against many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 in many in vitro experiments. Additionally, preliminary results of limited number of studies have been revealed that hydroxychloroquine sulfate reduces virus load and induces improvement in patients with COVID-19. This agent has been also suggested to be used in COVID-19 prophylaxis.

Until now, there is no official report on whether hydroxychloroquine combined with favipiravir show clinical activity against the new coronavirus, COVID-19, in Turkey. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir in the treatment of Turkey population with COVID-19.

This study designed as an open-label, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, phase III clinical drug trial.

A total of 1000 subjects aged between 18 to 70 years with symptoms and complaints consistent with possible or confirmed COVID-19 observed within the last 5 days and meet all eligibility criteria will participate in the study.

This study will be conducted in 14 sites.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1008
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Ankara, Turkey
    • Hacettepe University, School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects aged between 18 to 70 years,
• Patients with symptoms and complaints consistent with possible or confirmed COVID- 19 observed within the last 5 days,

• Patients with uncomplicated possible or confirmed COVID-19:

  1. Symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, joint pain, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, however no respiratory distress, no tachypnea or no SpO2 < 93%,
  2. Chest imaging (X-ray or CT chest) documented as normal

• Patients with mild possible or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (no severe pneumonia symptoms):

  1. Symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, joint pain, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, as well as respiratory rate <30/min and SpO2 above 93% on room air,
  2. Chest imaging (X-ray or CT chest)-documented mild pneumonia symptoms
• Patients who were decided to isolate and treat because of COVID-19 in the hospital,
• Patients who have not been involved in any other interventional studies.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients considered as inappropriate for this study for any reason like noncompliance by the researcher,
• Patients with persisting refractory nausea, vomiting, chronic diarrhoea or chronic gastrointestinal disorders, inability to swallow the study drug which may affect adequate absorption,
• Patients with chronic liver disease: alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevated over 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN),
• Patients with gout or hyperuricemia (above the ULN),
• Patients with severe pneumonia symptoms,
• Patients with known allergy to Favipiravir or for substances used in the study,
• Patients did not receive specific antiviral drugs such as lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin, arbidol, chloroquine phosphate, hydroxychloroquine, and monoclonal antibodies within one week before admission.
• Patients with known chronic renal impairment/failure [creatinine clearance (CcCl) <30 mL/min],
• Pregnant and lactating women
• Patients undergoing cardiac ablation therapy
• Patients using antiarrhythmic drugs
• Patients actively receiving chemotherapy
• Acute immunosuppressed patients
• Patients undergoing psychosis therapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg); Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.	Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg); Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.
Experimental: Favipiravir (3600 mg + 1600 mg); Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1800 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1600 mg maintenance dose (2x800 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.	Drug: Favipiravir (3600 mg + 1600 mg); Drug: Favipiravir (3600 mg + 1600 mg) Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1800 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1600 mg maintenance dose (2x800 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.
Experimental: Favipiravir combined with Hydroxychloroquine; Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Favipiravir Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.	Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg) combined with Hydroxychloroquine; Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Favipiravir Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.
Experimental: Favipiravir combined with Azithromycin; Azithromycin Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 1x500 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 250 mg maintenance dose (oral daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Favipiravir Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.	Drug: Favipiravir (3200 mg + 1200 mg) combined with Azithromycin; Azithromycin Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 1x500 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 250 mg maintenance dose (oral daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Favipiravir Favipiravir Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 2x1600 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 1200 mg maintenance dose (2x600 mg, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). The treatment duration may be extended up to 14 days with the evaluation of principle investigator.
Active Comparator: Hydroxychloroquine; Dosage and method of administration for patients with mild possible or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (no severe pneumonia symptoms): in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (200 mg oral 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Dosage and method of administration for patients with uncomplicated possible or confirmed COVID-19: in a regimen of 400 mg (200 mg oral 2 times daily) throughout 5 days (5 days in total).	Drug: Hydroxychloroquine; Dosage and method of administration for patients with mild possible or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (no severe pneumonia symptoms): in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (200 mg oral 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Dosage and method of administration for patients with uncomplicated possible or confirmed COVID-19: in a regimen of 400 mg (200 mg oral 2 times daily) throughout 5 days (5 days in total).
Active Comparator: Hydroxychloroquine combined with Azithromycin; Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration for patients with mild possible or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (no severe pneumonia symptoms): in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration for patients with uncomplicated possible or confirmed COVID-19: in a regimen of 400 mg (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) throughout 5 days (5 days in total). Azithromycin Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 1x500 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 250 mg maintenance dose (oral daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total).	Drug: Hydroxychloroquine combined with Azithromycin; Drug: Hydroxychloroquine combined with Azithromycin Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration for patients with mild possible or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (no severe pneumonia symptoms): in a regimen of 2x400 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 400 mg maintenance dose (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total). Hydroxychloroquine Dosage and method of administration for patients with uncomplicated possible or confirmed COVID-19: in a regimen of 400 mg (2x200 mg oral, 2 times daily) throughout 5 days (5 days in total). Azithromycin Dosage and method of administration: in a regimen of 1x500 mg (oral) loading dose on day-1 followed by 250 mg maintenance dose (oral daily) on day-2 to day-5 (5 days in total).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to recovery (discharge)	The evaluation of recovery (discharge) period until 14th day after administration.	14 days
Decrease in viral load	The evaluation of decrease in viral load until 14th day after administration.	14 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adverse Event (AE), Serious Adverse Event (SAE) and discontinuation of treatment	Number/characteristics of Adverse Event (AE), Serious Adverse Event (SAE) and discontinuation of treatment due to study drug from baseline until the end of study	14 days
Frequency of occurrence of lymphopenia from baseline	Clinical evaluation of occurrence of lymphopenia from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Frequency of occurrence of thrombocytopenia from baseline	Clinical evaluation of occurrence of thrombocytopenia from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels from baseline	Clinical evaluation of ALT levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels from baseline	Clinical evaluation of AST levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels from baseline	Clinical evaluation of CRP levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in level of D-dimer levels from baseline	Clinical evaluation of D-dimer levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in prothrombin time (PT) values from baseline	Clinical evaluation of PT values for blood to coagulate from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in partial thromboplastin time (PTT) values from baseline	Clinical evaluation of PTT values for blood to coagulate from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in blood pressure from baseline	Clinical evaluation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in respiratory rate from baseline	Clinical evaluation of respiratory rate levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in pulse oxymetry from baseline	Clinical evaluation of pulse oxymetry levels from baseline until the end of study.	14 days
Changes in fever from baseline	Clinical evaluation of changes in fever from baseline until the end of study.	14 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ministry of Health, Turkey
• Collaborators: Istanbul University; Ankara Training and Research Hospital; Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascıoglu Education and Research Hospital Organization; Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Ankara City Hospital Bilkent; Tepecik Training and Research Hospital; Ankara University; Umraniye Education and Research Hospital; SB Istanbul Education and Research Hospital; Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital; Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine; Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine; Ege University Hospital (Application and Research Center); Kayseri City Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 8, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 29, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): June 2, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2021
• Last Verified: January 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; COVID-19; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antirheumatic Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Favipiravir; Azithromycin; Hydroxychloroquine
• Other Study ID Numbers: COVID-19-FAV

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No