Evaluating the Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin to Prevent Hospitalization or Death in Persons With COVID-19
COVID-19, SARS-CoV 2
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for COVID-19
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Documentation of confirmed active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection from any respiratory specimen collected ≤7 days from when the first dose of study treatment was expected to be taken.
Experienced at least one of the following SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms within 24 hours of screening (symptom(s) must be new or worse compared to pre-COVID-19 health status):
- Fever (can be subjective) or feeling feverish
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing at rest or with exertion
- Sore throat
- Body pain or muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Agreed to not participate in another clinical trial for the treatment of COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 during the study period up until reaching hospitalization or 20 days, whichever is earliest.
- Agreed to not obtain study medications outside of the A5395 study.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Need for hospitalization or immediate medical attention in the clinical opinion of the study investigator.
- History of or current hospitalization for COVID-19.
- History of ventricular arrhythmia or use of antiarrhythmics within 30 days prior to entry.
- Personal or family history of Long QT syndrome.
- History of kidney disease.
- History of ischemic or structural heart disease.
- History of hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia or taking potassium supplementation or magnesium supplementation
- Personal medical history of porphyria, retinopathy, severe hepatic impairment, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
- Used drugs with possible anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity within 30 days prior to study entry, e.g., remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir fixed dose combination, ribavirin, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin, or participation in a clinical trial involving any of these drugs whether for treatment or prophylaxis.
- Requirement or expected requirement for a medication that significantly prolongs QT intervals or increases risk for QT prolongation.
- Loop diuretics are exceptions to above exclusion criterion but these cannot be used within 30 days prior to study entry.
- Participated in a study where co-enrollment was not allowed.
- Receipt of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prior to study entry.
- Known allergy/sensitivity or any hypersensitivity to components of HCQ, azithromycin, or their formulation.
More than 10 days of any of the following symptoms attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 infection at study entry:
- Fever (can be subjective) or feeling feverish
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing at rest or with exertion
- Sore throat
- Body pain or muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Nasal obstruction or congestion
- Loss of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Sites / Locations
- Alabama CRS
- UCSD Antiviral Research Center CRS
- Harbor-UCLA CRS
- Whitman-Walker Health CRS
- Northwestern University CRS
- Rush University CRS
- Greensboro CRS
- Cincinnati Clinical Research Site
- University of Pittsburgh CRS
- Trinity Health and Wellness Center CRS
- University of Washington AIDS CRS
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Arm A: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and Azithromycin (Azithro)
Arm B: Placebo for Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin
Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg (administered as two 200 mg capsules) orally twice daily for 2 doses starting on Day 0, followed by 200 mg (administered as one 200 mg capsule) orally twice daily for 12 doses (6 days), PLUS: Azithromycin 500 mg (administered as two 250 mg capsules) orally as a single dose on Day 0, followed by 250 mg (administered as one 250 mg capsule) orally once daily for 4 doses (4 days).
Placebo for Hydroxychloroquine (administered as two matching placebo capsules) orally twice daily for 2 doses starting on Day 0, followed by Placebo for HCQ (administered as one 200 mg capsule) orally twice daily for 12 doses (6 days), PLUS: Placebo for Azithromycin (administered as two matching placebo capsules) orally as a single dose on Day 0, followed by Placebo for Azithromycin (administered as one matching placebo capsule) orally once daily for 4 doses (4 days).