CClinicalTrials.gg
WithdrawnNCT05433181Updated Mar 30, 2025

ACE2 Chewing Gum on SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load (COVID 19)

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of ACE2 Chewing Gum and Placebo Chewing Gum in SARS-CoV-2, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-03-30.

Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Prevention

Why this study was withdrawn
For administrative reasons, the study was never opened and was terminated.
Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of the safety, tolerability, and antiviral activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) chewing gum over a 3-day period in non-hospitalized subjects with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

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Conditions studied

  • SARS-CoV-2
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In context

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania is the lead sponsor of 1,635 studies on the registry; 239 are open to participants now.

Of its 154 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 104 (68%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Able and willing to provide informed consent prior to initiation of study procedures.
  2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
  3. Male or female, aged 18 years to 65 years.
  4. Had a positive PCR or antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of enrollment.
  5. In the opinion of the investigator, has the ability to comply with study procedures including chewing the study products (gum).
  6. Stated willingness to refrain from brushing, eating or using any oral health care products, including mouth rinses at least one hour prior to first saliva sample.
  7. Stated willingness to abstain from eating mints or other chewing gums during the duration of the study.
  8. Stated willingness to abstain from using mouth rinse/gargling solutions at the time of enrollment and for the duration of the study.
  9. Stated willingness to use an acceptable method of birth control throughout duration of the study. Acceptable methods include hormonal contraceptives, barrier methods, abstinence, or other effective methods approved by the PI.
  10. Stated ability and willingness to store saliva samples at approximately 40° F for 3 days.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Individuals receiving antiviral medications that are thought to be active against SARS-CoV-2 in the opinion of the investigator.
  2. Individuals receiving oral or injectable antimicrobial medications (antibacterial, antiviral, antibiotics, including hydroxychloroquine) at time of enrollment.
  3. Currently undergoing cancer treatment.
  4. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  5. Participation in any other clinical trial within the past 14 days that used an investigational drug product.
  6. Admitted to the hospital or other medical facility or in the opinion of the investigator expected to require admission to a medical facility for the duration of the study.
  7. Taking chronic immunosuppressive medications at time of enrollment, defined as immunomodulatory agents or a prednisolone dose greater than 10 mg a day.
  8. Uncontrolled hypertension, defined as ≥160 mmHg systolic or ≥100 mmHg diastolic.
  9. Allergy/hypersensitivity to lettuce, gelatin (plant based), stevia, or unwillingness to consume genetically modified plant material.
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Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    ACE2 Chewing Gum

    Drug: ACE2 Chewing Gum

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Chewing Gum

    Other: Placebo Chewing Gum

Interventions

  • DrugACE2 Chewing Gum

    The IP is formulated as an oral plant powder, which is packaged into a chewing gum. No specific excipient, buffer, salt or pH is required. CTB-ACE2, with efficient binding to both GM1 and ACE2 receptors, effectively blocks binding of the spike protein and viral entry into human cells. Oral epithelial cells are enriched with both receptors. In addition, ACE2 directly binds to the spike protein and inactivates SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, CTB-ACE2 chewing gum is being evaluated for impact on entry and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

  • OtherPlacebo Chewing Gum

    Chewing gum containing wild-type lyophilized plant cells manufactured to match the IP.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluate the safety and tolerability of CTB-ACE2 chewing gum.

    The safety and tolerability in COVID 19+ adult individuals as measured by frequency of solicited adverse events (AEs).

    Time frame: At time of consent through Day 28

Secondary outcomes

  1. Test the antiviral activity of ACE2 chewing gum on reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the oral cavity of COVID-19+ individuals via authorized PCR.

    The change in amount of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva before and after intervention (chewing gum for 10 minutes) via authorized PCR; this includes after first use and sustained use over 3 days.

    Time frame: Days 1-4

  2. Evaluate the Symptom score of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection relative to treatment group (CTB-ACE2 chewing gum/placebo).

    Symptom score of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection relative to treatment group (CTB-ACE2 chewing gum/placebo).

    Time frame: Days 1-4

Other outcomes

  1. Test the antiviral activity of ACE2 chewing gum on reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the oral cavity of COVID-19+ individuals via antigen quantitation analysis.

    The change in amount of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva before and after intervention (chewing gum for 10 minutes) via antigen quantitation analysis; this includes after first use and sustained use over 3 days.

    Time frame: Days 1-4

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Infectious Diseases Clinical Trial Unit
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 30, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05433181
Lead sponsor
University of Pennsylvania
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 27, 2022
Start date
Feb 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
Apr 1, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Apr 1, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 30, 2025

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is withdrawn, as verified in Mar 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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