Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

This study investigates the efficay and tolerance of 5-days course of hydroxychloroquine or hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin of patients with COVID-19 infection. The investigators will undertake a randomized, double-blind, controlled Trial in the region of Sousse Tunisia


Clinical Trial Description

There is a critical need to identify effective treatments and a number of molecules have been suggested, but The investigators still do not have enough evidence about their efficacy, to treat COVID-19 pneumonia.

One of the most tested treatments was the use of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine associated or not to azithromycin.

Studies have indicated that chloroquine (CQ) shows antagonism against COVID-19 in vitro. It's known to block virus infection by increasing endosomal pH required for virus/cell fusion, as well as interfering with the glycosylation of cellular receptors of SARS-CoV. It's also demonstrated that CQ functioned at both entry, and at postentry stages of the 2019-nCoV infection in Vero E6 cells. Besides its antiviral activity, CQ has an immune-modulating activity, which may synergistically enhance its antiviral effect in vivo.

However, evidence regarding its effects in patients is limited. Among patients with COVID-19, the use of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) could significantly shorten time to clinical recovery (TTCR) and promote the absorption of pneumonia. This result has been presented in a randomized controlled trial using two arms HCQ versus conventional treatment. The beneficial effect of HCQ has been proven among mild severity COVID-19 pneumonia but the sample size of this study was limited to 31 patients in each group.

Gautret et al also reported that HCQ treatment is significantly associated with viral load reduction/disappearance in COVID-19 patients and its effect is reinforced by azithromycin. A study showed that azithromycin concentration in phagocytic cells is 40× to 150× higher than plasma concentrations. However, Gautret study has many limitations including selection biases because of non-randomization, a small sample size, and dropout of six patients from the study.

In terms of treatment duration, there is no study supporting a long course treatment of 10 days versus a short course treatment of 5 days for HCQ. This treatment is known to have a large distribution volume of 73 l/kg and a plasma half life going from 22 days to 123 days. This suggests that a short course treatment of Hydroxychloroquine and/or azithromycin could be as effective as a long course treatment.

On the other hand, there are currently no effective specific antivirals or drug combinations supported by high-level evidence, and The investigators don't know if HCQ could be effective or if it's effectiveness may be improved if it's associated with Azithromycin. In fact, this association can lead to improve pneumonia but can also increase the risk of treatment side effects. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04405921
Study type Interventional
Source Centre Hôpital Universitaire Farhat Hached
Contact Amel Letaief, Professor
Phone 21673102501
Email ameletaief@gmail.com
Status Not yet recruiting
Phase Phase 3
Start date July 2020
Completion date March 2021

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Withdrawn NCT06065033 - Exercise Interventions in Post-acute Sequelae of Covid-19 N/A
Completed NCT06267534 - Mindfulness-based Mobile Applications Program N/A
Completed NCT05047601 - A Study of a Potential Oral Treatment to Prevent COVID-19 in Adults Who Are Exposed to Household Member(s) With a Confirmed Symptomatic COVID-19 Infection Phase 2/Phase 3
Recruiting NCT04481633 - Efficacy of Pre-exposure Treatment With Hydroxy-Chloroquine on the Risk and Severity of COVID-19 Infection N/A
Recruiting NCT05323760 - Functional Capacity in Patients Post Mild COVID-19 N/A
Completed NCT04537949 - A Trial Investigating the Safety and Effects of One BNT162 Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Healthy Adults Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT04612972 - Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines (Vero Cell) to Prevent COVID-19 in Healthy Adult Population In Peru Healthy Adult Population In Peru Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05494424 - Cognitive Rehabilitation in Post-COVID-19 Condition N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT06039449 - A Study to Investigate the Prevention of COVID-19 withVYD222 in Adults With Immune Compromise and in Participants Aged 12 Years or Older Who Are at Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Phase 3
Enrolling by invitation NCT05589376 - You and Me Healthy
Completed NCT05158816 - Extracorporal Membrane Oxygenation for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19
Recruiting NCT04341506 - Non-contact ECG Sensor System for COVID19
Completed NCT04512079 - FREEDOM COVID-19 Anticoagulation Strategy Phase 4
Completed NCT04384445 - Zofin (Organicell Flow) for Patients With COVID-19 Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT05975060 - A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of an (Omicron Subvariant) COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose in Previously Vaccinated Participants and Unvaccinated Participants. Phase 2/Phase 3
Active, not recruiting NCT05542862 - Booster Study of SpikoGen COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 3
Withdrawn NCT05621967 - Phonation Therapy to Improve Symptoms and Lung Physiology in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation N/A
Terminated NCT05487040 - A Study to Measure the Amount of Study Medicine in Blood in Adult Participants With COVID-19 and Severe Kidney Disease Phase 1
Terminated NCT04498273 - COVID-19 Positive Outpatient Thrombosis Prevention in Adults Aged 40-80 Phase 3
Active, not recruiting NCT06033560 - The Effect of Non-invasive Respiratory Support on Outcome and Its Risks in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2)-Related Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure