Melatonin Agonist on Hospitalized Patients With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19

Adjuvant Therapeutic Effects of Melatonin Agonist on Hospitalized Patients With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19

COVID-19 is impacting on health systems in Brazil and worldwide. Reducing the risk of clinical deterioration and prolonged disease duration in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may alleviate the burden caused by the pandemic. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has demonstrated antiapoptotic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory roles and has been suggested as a potential protector against organ injuries and even mediate lower mortality rates after polymicrobial sepsis in animal models. Melatonin agonists may modulate protective effects against acute lung injury and play a clinical role in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The investigators proposed a clinical trial testing the effects of ramelteon 8mg in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Covid19; Lung Injury
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ramelteon 8mg

Detailed Description

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) pandemic, also denominated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), is currently challenging health systems in Brazil and worldwide. The mortality rate of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Brazil seems to be close to twice that of countries like Germany and Canada. (1-3) The resulted viral interstitial pneumonia can lead to severe hypoxemic respiratory failure, overcrowded intensive care units (ICUs), shortages of equipment and personnel, and increased mortality. (4-6)

Some reasons for higher mortality risk in Brazil can be related to an increased propensity of clinical worsening in hospitalized patients. Consequently, reducing the risk of clinical deterioration and prolonged disease duration in hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 has become a priority to reduce the burden of such pandemic and the admission to ICUs. However, to our knowledge, few and complex specific interventions have been tested targeting outcomes related to a reduction of the immediate risk of severe disease and prolonged hospitalization in inpatients with mild-to-moderate clinical signs and symptoms.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone synthesized mainly by the pineal gland and also by other nonendocrine organs, including the immune system. Among its multiple properties, melatonin has demonstrated antiapoptotic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory roles exerted via both receptor-dependent and receptor-independent signalling cascades. (7,8) It has been suggested that melatonin receptors activation protects against organ injuries. (9-10). Additionally, melatonin receptors can mediate lower mortality rates after polymicrobial sepsis in animal models. (11)

Melatonin potentially modulates immune response by enhancing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10, which is involved in the Th2-like immune response. (12) IL-10 has effects on a myriad of cell types and, in lung cells under damaging circumstances, its production turns undermined. (13) Recent findings indicated that melatonin receptors are modulators of protective effects against acute lung injury induced by the ventilator in rats through the up-regulation of IL-10 production. (14) This evidence upsurged testing the effects of ramelteon, a potent and highly selective agonist of high-affinity melatonin receptors 1 (MT1) and MT2, which further displays antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. (15-17) Melatonin agonism may play a clinical role in individuals with acute lung injuries, including those induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, which has not yet been investigated. The investigators designed a clinical trial testing standard care versus ramelteon 8mg under diverse clinical and laboratory outcomes related to the COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with this condition.

References

1. Robert Koch Institut. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Daily Situation Report of the Robert Koch Institute. Available from: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Situationsberichte/Gesamt.html Updated 14.05.20
2. DATASUS. Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Available from: https://covid.saude.gov.br/. Atualizada em: 14/05/2020
3. Government of Canada. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Daily Epidemiology Update. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html?topic=tilelink#a1. Updated 14.05.20.
4. P.H.S. Pelicioni, S.R. Lord. COVID-19 will severely impact older people's lives, and in many more ways than you think!. Braz J Phys Ther, (2020), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.04.005
5. [3] R.D. Branson, D.R. Hess, L. Rubinson. SARS CoV-2: Guidance Document. American Association for Respiratory Care, (2020),
6. World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report 46. (2020)
7. Jockers R, Delagrange P, Dubocovich ML, Markus RP, Renault N, Tosini G, Cecon E, Zlotos DP. Update on melatonin receptors: IUPHAR Review 20. Br J Pharmacol. 2016;173:2702-2725. doi: 10.1111/bph.13536.
8. Radogna F, Paternoster L, Albertini MC, Cerella C, Accorsi A, Bucchini A, Spadoni G, Diamantini G, Tarzia G, De Nicola M, et al. Melatonin antagonizes apoptosis via receptor interaction in U937 monocytic cells. J Pineal Res. 2007;43:154-162. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2007.00455.x.
9. Lochner A, Genade S, Davids A, Ytrehus K, Moolman JA. Short- and long-term effects of melatonin on myocardial post-ischemic recovery. J Pineal Res. 2006;40:56-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2005.00280.x.
10. Rezzani R, Rodella LF, Bonomini F, Tengattini S, Bianchi R, Reiter RJ. Beneficial effects of melatonin in protecting against cyclosporine A-induced cardiotoxicity are receptor-mediated. J Pineal Res. 2006;41:288-295. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2006.00368.x.
11. Fink T, Glas M, Wolf A, Kleber A, Reus E, Wolff M, Kiefer D, Wolf B, Rensing H, Volk T, Mathes AM. Melatonin receptors mediate improvements of survival in a model of polymicrobial sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2014;42:e22-e31. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3182a63e2b.
12. Ren Wenkai, Liu Gang, Chen Shuai, Yin Jie, Wang Jing, Tan Bie, Wu Guoyao, Bazer Fuller W., Peng Yuanyi, Li Tiejun, Reiter Russel J., Yin Yulong. Melatonin signalling in T cells: Functions and applications. Journal of Pineal Research. 2017;62(3):e12394. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12394.
13. Hokenson MA, Wang Y, Hawwa RL, Huang Z, Sharma S, Sanchez-Esteban J. Reduced IL-10 production in fetal type II epithelial cells exposed to mechanical stretch is mediated via activation of IL-6-SOCS3 signalling pathway. PLoS One. 2013;8:e59598. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059598.
14. Wu GC, Peng CK, Liao WI, Pao HP, Huang KL, Chu SJ. Melatonin receptor agonist protects against acute lung injury induced by ventilator through up-regulation of IL-10 production. Respir Res. 2020 Mar 6;21(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s12931-020-1325-2.
15. Mathes AM, Kubulus D, Waibel L, Weiler J, Heymann P, Wolf B, Rensing H. Selective activation of melatonin receptors with ramelteon improves liver function and hepatic perfusion after hemorrhagic shock in the rat. Crit Care Med. 2008;36:2863-2870. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e318187b863.
16. Shimizu N, Nozawa M, Sugimoto K, Yamamoto Y, Minami T, Hayashi T, Yoshimura K, Ishii T, Uemura H. Therapeutic efficacy and anti-inflammatory effect of ramelteon in patients with insomnia associated with lower urinary tract symptoms. Res Rep Urol. 2013;5:113-119.
17. Zhou W, Zhang X, Zhu CL, He ZY, Liang JP, Song ZC. Melatonin receptor agonists as the "Perioceutics" agents for the periodontal disease through modulation of Porphyromonas gingivalis virulence and inflammatory response. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0166442. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166442

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 100
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals (or legally authorized representative) providing written informed consent prior to initiation of any study procedures.
2. Male or non-pregnant female adult ≥18 years of age at time of enrollment
3. Subject consents to randomization within 48 hours of hospital admission
4. Symptom duration of 14 days or less upon recruitment

5. At least one of the following:

   1. Radiographic infiltrates by imaging (chest x-ray or CT scan), OR
   2. Clinical assessment (evidence of rales/crackles on the exam) AND SpO2 ≤ 94% on room air

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Mild COVID-19 disease (minor clinical symptoms, imaging does not show signs of lung inflammation)
2. Recent history of or any in-hospital exposure to investigational medications targeting COVID-19
3. ALT/AST > 5 times the upper limit of normal.
4. Known hypersensitivity to ramelteon
5. Pregnancy
6. Severe hepatic insufficiency
7. Fluvoxamine use

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; A placebo with the same physical characteristics of the experimental drug pill will be administered at the same time and daily schedule as the experimental intervention for 10 days.	Drug: Ramelteon 8mg; Standard care combined with oral placebo or ramelteon 8mg at bedtime for 10 days
Experimental: Ramelteon; A pill containing ramelteon 8mg will be administered daily at bedtime for 10 days.	Drug: Ramelteon 8mg; Standard care combined with oral placebo or ramelteon 8mg at bedtime for 10 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to resolution of symptoms [National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) of 0]	Defined as a National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) of 0 maintained for 24 hours [Time Frame: Assessed daily (enrollment is day 0)] The NEWS consists of a simple aggregate scoring system based on physiological measurements, regularly registered in inpatient settings, including six parameters: respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness or new confusion, and temperature.	enrollment is day 0

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Clinical worsening to critical COVID-19 illness	Critical COVID-19 illness as a composite of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), invasive ventilation, or death	until Day 30
Duration of supplemental oxygen therapy	Measured by duration of use of supplemental oxygen (if applicable)	until day 14
Duration of mechanical ventilation (if applicable)	Measured by duration of use of mechanical ventilation	until day 30
Duration of hospitalisation	Measured by duration of hospitalization	until day 30
Proportion of participants with virologic clearance in nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR	Presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNA in nasopharyngeal swab or lower respiratory secretions	Day 14
C-reactive protein (CRP) level's reduction	Reduction of C-reactive protein levels > 50% in comparison with PCR levels at the admission	Days 3, 5 and 8
Incidence of New Onset Lymphopenia	Incidence of new onset lymphopenia during hospitalization measured by blood draw	Through study completion, average of 15 days
Direct bilirubin level's reduction	Reduction of mean direct bilirubin levels in comparison with levels at the admission	Measured in study Days 3, 5, and 8
Side Effects	Differences in number of patients in study arms who experienced side effects	until day 14

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa
• Investigators: Study Director: Dalva Poyares, PhD, Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): September 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Anticipated): March 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 12, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 12, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 14, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2020
• Last Verified: July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Melatonin; COVID-19; Acute Distress Respiratory Syndrome
• 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; Wounds and Injuries; Thoracic Injuries; COVID-19; Lung Injury
• Other Study ID Numbers: MELCOV2020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No