A Phase 2 interventional study of Ascorbic Acid in COVID-19, sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University. Status unknown. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-05-05.
Sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
There are currently no approved therapies for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Infusion of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been shown to increase activity of lymphocytes, which are a crucial component of the body's defense against viral disease progression and adaptive immunity. Ascorbic acid infusion has been shown to be a safe treatment for patients suffering from sepsis and certain types of cancer. This study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ascorbic acid in the form of sequential I.V. infusions (Ascor®) for patients with suspected COVID-19 who are unlikely to require mechanical ventilation within 24 hours of study intervention.
Ascorbic acid [AA] (vitamin C) is an essential nutrient that, in addition to aiding tissue repair, also functions as an enzyme co-factor, an antioxidant, and a key component in lymphocyte development and function. Lymphocytes are responsible for adaptive immunity, the immune response following vaccination, in addition to playing a vital role in protection against viral disease progression. Both sepsis and aberrant lymphocyte activation have been associated with severe AA deficiency. We hypothesize that the administration of increasing concentrations of pharmacologic AA promotes lymphocyte activation and signaling in newly admitted, non-ventilator dependent COVID-19 patients via hydrogen peroxide generation and/or DNA de-methylation, and that this will lead to improved clinical outcomes.
This is a single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, phase II clinical trial designed to assess the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of pharmacologic AA administration in hospitalized patients newly-diagnosed with COVID-19 who will likely not require mechanical ventilation within 24 hours of study intervention. All subjects enrolled will be pending inpatient admission or already admitted as they will require supplemental oxygen. Within 12 hours of admission to the E.D. or medical/surgical floor (rapid screens to determine eligibility must be completed within this time), patients will receive escalating pharmacologic AA over 2 hours once daily for 3 escalating doses, then continued on the highest dose for a total of 6 infusions.
Subjects will be randomized 2:1, with 66 subjects receiving AA treatments and 22 subjects receiving routine clinical care. The open-label design allows investigators to evaluate the safety and clinical progress in real-time. Any subject randomized to AA treatment who is upgraded to ICU-level care, requires high-flow O2 supplementation, or is intubated, will no longer receive AA infusions in order to maximize patient safety during this study. Given the robust safety data on the treatment, a phase II design was chosen with an interim safety analysis after 21 patients. Randomization will be stratified according to high vs. low risk of complications. Patients will be considered to be high risk if they have any of the following characteristics: age>60, hypertension, structural lung disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, immunocompromising conditions or meds (such as immunosuppressing meds in transplant patients).
7,641 studies on the registry are indexed under COVID-19; 487 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 66 is below the median of 100 across 4,100 interventional studies indexed under COVID-19.
Browse COVID-19 studies →Thomas Jefferson University is the lead sponsor of 384 studies on the registry; 71 are open to participants now.
Of its 44 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 20 (45%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
No anticipated need (within 24 hours) for mechanical ventilation, defined as:
Exclusion Criteria
Ascorbic acid solution (Ascor®, McGuff Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.) will be added to each liter of sterile wate,r plus 1 g/L magnesium chloride to reduce burning sensation, and given parenterally over a 2-hour period. On the day of enrollment (Day 0), 0.3 g/kg will be given; Day 1 - 0.6 g/kg; Day 2 - 0.9 g/kg; Day 3 - 0.9 g/kg; Day 4 - 0.9 g/kg; Day 5 - 0.9 g/kg. After the first dose, each subsequent dose will be given 24 +/- 4 hours following the previous dose.
Drug: Ascorbic Acid
These subject will follow routine care and their clinical courses will be recorded only.
Ascor® ascorbic acid 2-hour infusion daily (for 6 days), escalating dose (0.3g/kg, 0.6g/kg, 0.9g/kg).
Also known as: Vitamin C
Clinical Improvement
• Clinical improvement at 72 hours of treatment, defined as a 50% reduction in the highest flow rate of oxygen during the 72 hour period, a 50% reduction in the most frequent use of bronchodilators within a 12-hour window within the 72-hour period, or hospital discharge (whichever comes first).
Time frame: 72 hours
Patient status upgraded to ICU level [Clinical decline]
Subject is upgraded to ICU-level care
Time frame: 36 hours
Oxygen supplementation
Overall rate of oxygen supplementation in L/min
Time frame: up to 1 year
Days with fever
Number of days during hospitalization where a fever (\>100.4°F) is reached at least once
Time frame: up to 1 year
Days to discharge
Number of days from initial treatment to hospital discharge
Time frame: up to 1 year
SAEs
Serious adverse events specific to treatment
Time frame: up to 1 year
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is status unknown, as verified in May 2020. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Thomas Jefferson University