Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Coronavirus-induced disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infection caused by a virus whose full name is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This is a new and rapidly-spreading infectious disease which carries a significant risk of death, has brought massive economic impact globally and has proved hard to contain through public health measures. While we currently have effective vaccines, they do not protect the whole community and the constant threat of new mutations means there is an urgent need to identify new approaches to reducing community spread of infection. Heparin is a naturally occurring sugar molecule which has been used for a century to treat a range of medical problems including heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. It has also been investigated as a treatment for pneumonias. Recent research suggests it binds to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in such a way it may reduce the virus' ability to enter cells. This may be an important way to tackle the early stages of infection which occurs inside the nose. Therefore, this medication could be used amongst people with early COVID-19 infection and amongst their household contacts to reduce the rate of virus transmission during local outbreaks. If proven effective there are many other potential uses as primary prophylaxis for people working in high risk areas, for travel, for protection in high risk crowded environments such as nightclubs, or sporting events. Heparin is safe, inexpensive, available worldwide and if effective could be rapidly used across the world to slow progression of the current pandemic. Further there are recent studies suggesting that the risk of brain complications as part of "long COVID", are directly related to the amount of virus in the nose. Reducing the viral load in the nose is thought to be effective in reducing these "long COVID" complications. This study will explore the effect of the intervention on viral load and long COVID. In this study, researchers want to investigate this medicine in people who have been identified by a COVID-19 swab test to be in the early stages of infection(defined as the index case), and amongst their household contacts. Each participant would take the medicine or a dummy control solution by spray into their nose three times a day for 10 days. The study will investigate if there are fewer people who contract SARS-CoV-2 infection by day 10 amongst households who receive the medicine than households which receive the dummy control.


Clinical Trial Description

Multi-centre, prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled two-arm cluster randomised superiority clinical trial. Individual households with at least one person with Polymerase chain reaction assay(PCR) or Rapid Antigen test (RAT) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection will be randomised so that all consenting people in that household receive intranasal heparin or placebo. The rate of subsequent PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in exposed households will be measured to determine the effect of intranasal heparin on reducing transmission to close contacts. The rate of symptom development in all participants will be used to determine effect of treatment in preventing symptomatic disease The rate of hospitalisation of all participants will be measured to determine the effect of treatment on development of severe disease. The presence of clinical neurological long COVID symptoms will be assessed at 6 and 12 months to determine the effect of treatment on long COVID. Objectives Primary • To test the efficacy of early treatment and post exposure prophylaxis to reduce transmission to household contacts on SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay by day 10. Secondary - To test the efficacy of intranasal heparin to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding: over 10 days from day of positive swab (health professional collected nasopharyngeal swab Day 3 and 5, and Day 10: self-administered anterior nasal swab swab days 1,2,3,4,5 and 10). - To test the safety of intranasal heparin for treatment of adult and children outpatients with SARS CoV-2 infection - To test whether intranasal heparin administration reduces symptomatic disease in index cases and household contacts - To test the impact of intranasal heparin on peak severity of illness. - Quantification of replication-competent virus. - To assess the impact of intranasal heparin on long COVID neurological symptoms ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT05204550
Study type Interventional
Source Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Contact Paul Monagle, MD
Phone +61393455165
Email paul.monagle@rch.org.au
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2/Phase 3
Start date January 30, 2023
Completion date June 1, 2026

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting 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 NCT05323760 - Functional Capacity in Patients Post Mild COVID-19 N/A
Recruiting NCT04481633 - Efficacy of Pre-exposure Treatment With Hydroxy-Chloroquine on the Risk and Severity of COVID-19 Infection N/A
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
Completed NCT04537949 - A Trial Investigating the Safety and Effects of One BNT162 Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Healthy Adults Phase 1/Phase 2
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 NCT04384445 - Zofin (Organicell Flow) for Patients With COVID-19 Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT04512079 - FREEDOM COVID-19 Anticoagulation Strategy Phase 4
Active, not recruiting 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 - Spikogen Booster Study Phase 3
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
Withdrawn NCT05621967 - Phonation Therapy to Improve Symptoms and Lung Physiology in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation N/A
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