Treatment of Patients With Mild Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) Disease With Methotrexate Associated to LDL Like Nanoparticles (Nano-COVID19)

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Inflammation; Covid19; Coronavirus

Treatments: Drug: Methotrexate-LDE phase 1; Drug: Placebo-LDE phase 2; Drug: Methotrexate-LDE phase 2

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04610567

36746020.5.1001.0068

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators propose a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted in two phases. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of methotrexate in a cholesterol-rich non-protein nanoparticle (MTX -LDE) in adults diagnosed with mild Coronavirus-19(COVID-19) disease.

A total of 100 patients will be randomized to receive MTX-LDE or placebo each 7 days, up to 3 times, during in hospital treatment.

Full description

The objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of (MTX -LDE) in patients with mild Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) disease.

In phase 1, firstly 3 patients with moderate COVID-19 disease will receive MTX-LDE IV 15mg each 7 days, up to 3 times, during hospitalization. After that, 9 patients with moderate COVID-19 disease will receive MTX-LDE IV 30mg each 7 days, up to 3 times, during hospitalization. Follow-up assessments will occur daily following randomization during in hospital treatment and 2 weeks after discharge for evaluation of the occurrence of adverse events.The purpose of this phase will be evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics.

If no objection by data and safety monitoring board (DSMB), will be authorized to start the second phase.

In phase 2, 88 patients with moderate COVID-19 disease will be randomized to receive MTX-LDE IV 30mg or placebo-LDE IV each 7 days, up to 3 times, during hospitalization. Follow-up assessments will occur daily following randomization during in hospital treatment and 2 weeks after discharge for evaluation of the occurrence of any trial endpoints or other adverse events.The primary endpoint of this phase will be reduction in duration of hospitalization stay between groups.

Patients will undergo clinical and laboratory safety evaluations daily. An algorithm for drug suspension based on clinical and laboratory finding will be followed.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who were hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19
• Mild Coronavirus-19 disease (WHO Coronavirus-19 scale < 5)
• Fewer than 14 days since symptom onset.
• Female patient is not of childbearing potential, defined as postmenopausal for at least 1 year or surgically sterile.
• Female patient is of childbearing potential must has a negative pregnancy test.
• Signing the study informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Need for oxygen supplementation >4 L/min via nasal cannula or ≥40% via Venturi mask.
• Need for oxygen supplementation via high-flow nasal cannula.
• Need for invasive mechanical ventilation.
• Extent of pulmonary involvement > 50% by CT scan.
• Chronic renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
• History of liver cirrhosis (Bilirubins levels > 3mg/dl)
• History of heart failure ( Ejection fraction <40%)
• History of Steven-Johnson disease
• History of stroke in the last 6 months
• History of sickle cell disease
• Chronic use of oral steroid therapy or other immunosuppressive or biologic response modifiers.
• Prior history of chronic hepatitis B or C infection and known HIV positive.
• Patient undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
• Sepsis caused by fungal or multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria
• Known allergy to methotrexate.
• Body mass index(BMI) > 40 or <18.5
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Patients enrolled in other clinical trials in the last 12 months
• Patient is considered by the investigator, for any reason, to be an unsuitable candidate for the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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100 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

MTX-LDE phase 1

Experimental group

Description:

Methotrexate carried by a lipid nanoparticle (MTX-LDE)

Treatment:

Drug: Methotrexate-LDE phase 1

MTX-LDE phase 2

Experimental group

Description:

Methotrexate carried by a lipid nanoparticle (MTX-LDE)

Treatment:

Drug: Methotrexate-LDE phase 2

Placebo-LDE phase 2

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Lipid nanoparticle (LDE)

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo-LDE phase 2