A Phase 3 interventional study of Budesonide Nasal and Physiological serum in Budesonide, Olfaction Disorders and SARS-CoV-2, sponsored by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-06.
Sponsored by Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The initial symptoms described in the first cases of COVID-19 were mainly fever and respiratory signs. Recently, there has been an increase in cases of hyposmia without associated nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea. Although we do not yet know the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on olfaction, there is evidence in the literature demonstrating that post-viral hyposmias are an important source of long-term olfactory disorders, impacting quality of life.
Usually, the treatment of viral hyposmias is based on local and/or general corticosteroid treatment combined with saline nasal irrigation at the onset of signs. Because of the possible development of severe forms of the SARS-Cov-2 infection, the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology has advised against treatment by corticosteroid therapy and nasal irrigation. However, as the virus is present in the nasal fossae on average for 20 days, persistent hyposmia at 30 days would probably result from an inflammatory or neurological damage to the nasal slits or olfactory bulb. Local treatment with corticosteroids could then be instituted from 30 days after the onset of symptoms of COVID-19 without risk of dissemination.
In persistent hyposmia other than chronic rhinosinusitis, the only treatment that has proven its efficacy is nasal irrigation associated with budesonide and olfactory rehabilitation. However, this drug does not have marketing authorisation in France for this indication.
This is a multicenter randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of local budesonide (nasal irrigation) in the management of persistent hyposmia in COVID-19 patients.
180 studies on the registry are indexed under Anosmia; 45 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 120 is above the median of 60 across 114 interventional studies indexed under Anosmia.
Browse Anosmia studies →Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild is the lead sponsor of 316 studies on the registry; 78 are open to participants now.
Compared within Anosmia, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Olfaction Disorders. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
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CYP3A is a group of enzymes, mainly CYP3A4, in the liver and gut that break down many medicines. Some medicines, supplements and foods (grapefruit, St John’s wort) slow them down or speed them up, which changes how much of a study drug stays in the body.
Studies list them so they can be avoided or switched; bring a list of everything you take, including supplements.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
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Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Excipients
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
CYP3A (CYP3A4) inhibitors and inducers
CYP3A is a group of enzymes, mainly CYP3A4, in the liver and gut that break down many medicines. Some medicines, supplements and foods (grapefruit, St John’s wort) slow them down or speed them up, which changes how much of a study drug stays in the body.
Studies list them so they can be avoided or switched; bring a list of everything you take, including supplements.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Nasal irrigation with budesonide and physiological saline (Budesonide 1mg/2mL diluted in 250mL of physiological saline 9°/00): 3 syringes of 20mL in each nasal cavity, morning and evening, for 30 days, in addition to olfactory rehabilitation twice a day.
Drug: Budesonide Nasal
Nasal irrigation with physiological saline 9°/00 only: 3 syringes of 20cc in each nasal cavity, morning and evening, for 30 days, in addition to olfactory re-education twice a day.
Other: Physiological serum
Nasal irrigation with budesonide and physiological saline morning and evening, for 30 days, in addition to olfactory rehabilitation twice a day.
Also known as: Experimental group
Nasal irrigation with physiological saline morning and evening, for 30 days, in addition to olfactory re-education twice a day.
Also known as: Control group
Patient with more than 2 points on the ODORATEST
Percentage of patients with an improvement of more than 2 points on the ODORATEST score (5) after 30 days of treatment
Time frame: 30 days
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Budesonide
Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild →