Neurokinin 1 Receptor, Substance P, Respiratory Illness, Inflammation, Covid-19, Coronavirus Clinical Trial
Official title:
To Determine the Efficacy of Neurokinin 1 Receptor Antagonist as a Therapeutic Tool Against Cytokine Storm and Respiratory Failure in Covid-19 Patients
This is a randomized, randomized controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of
Neurokinin-1 Receptor (NK-1R) 80 mg orally given daily to treat cytokine storm causing
inflammatory lung injury and respiratory failure associated with severe or critical COVID-19
infection. NK-1R is the receptor of Substance P (SP) and responsible for its functionality.
Here, we propose that SP via its tachykinin receptor, NK-1R may cause inflammation in
Covid-19 infection. It may initiate the cytokine storming via binding to its receptor NK-1
and many inflammatory mediators are released. If SP release is reduced by NK-1R antagonist,
it may control the cytokine storming and hence the hyper-responsiveness of the respiratory
tract through reduction in cytokine storming It may serve as the treatment strategy for
Covid-19 infected patients.
Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be enrolled after giving consent. They wll be
randomized to treatment with either NK-1R antagonist or placebo in addition to Dexamethasone
as a standard treatment given to both groups for Covid-19 infection as per the protocol at
the treating hospital. Inflammatory lab markers as detailed should be collected once per day
in the morning, preferably at the same time every morning. All enrolled participants will
have whole blood collected for whole genome sequencing.
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical outcomes of Neurokinin 1 Receptor antagonist in Covid-19 patients
against the usual treatments as controls
Dosage Aprepitant capsules may be given to patients from 3-5 days fosaprepitant dimeglumine
(Injection 115mg, prodrug form of aprepitant) may be substituted for oral drug in case of
critical patients May be taken with or without food
Administration One capsule of Aprepitant once a day for 3-5 days
;