AzTrials
AzTrials

COVID-19Phase 2/3NCT04467840

Opaganib, a Sphingosine Kinase-2 (SK2) Inhibitor in COVID-19 Pneumonia

A Phase 2/3 study testing Opaganib in people with COVID-19 and Lung Infection, run by RedHill Biopharma Limited at 57 sites in 10 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

A phase 2/3 multi-center randomized, double-blind, parallel arm, placebo- controlled study in Adult Subjects Hospitalized with Severe SARS-CoV-2 Positive Pneumonia to determine the potential of opaganib to improve and/or stabilize the clinical status of the patient. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
COVID-19, Lung Infection
What is being tested?
Opaganib
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
475 participants
Where
57 sitesin 10 countries
Study dates
21 Aug 2020to 18 Jul 2021
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adult male or female ≥18 to ≤80 years of age
  • Proven COVID-19 infection per RT-PCR assay of a pharyngeal sample (nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal) AND pneumonia defined as radiographic opacities on chest X-ray or CT scan. that diagnosed COVID-19 pneumonia. Pharyngeal samples collected either at screening or within 7-days prior to screening for the same ongoing COVID-19 pneumonia illness are acceptable
  • The patient requires, at baseline, high flow supplemental oxygen or positive pressure ventilation or is receiving oxygen via face mask, such as a non-rebreather or reservoir mask, capable of delivering high concentrations of oxygen
  • Patient agrees to use appropriate methods of contraception during the study and 3 months after the last dose of study drug
  • The patient or legal representative has signed a written informed consent approved by the IRB/Ethics Committee

Who cannot join

  • Any co-morbidity that may add risk to the treatment in the judgment of the investigator, particularly patients with known cardiac conditions, and serious neuropsychiatric conditions such as psychosis or major depression
  • Requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation at baseline
  • Patient has a 'Do Not Intubate' and/or 'Do Not Resuscitate' order in place
  • Oxygen saturation >95% on room air
  • Any preexisting respiratory condition that requires intermittent or continuous ambulatory oxygen prior to hospitalization
  • Patient is, in the investigator's clinical judgement, unlikely to survive >72 hours
Show all 21Show fewer
  • Pregnant (positive serum or urine test within 3 days prior to randomization) or nursing women .
  • Unwillingness or inability to comply with procedures required in this protocol.
  • Corrected QT (QTc) interval on electrocardiogram (ECG) >470 ms for females or >450 ms for males, calculated using Friedericia's formula (QTcF)
  • AST (SGOT) or ALT (SGPT) > 2.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • Total bilirubin >1.5x ULN (except where bilirubin increase is due to Gilbert's Syndrome)
  • Serum creatinine >2.0 X ULN
  • Absolute neutrophil count <1000 cells/mm3
  • Platelet count <75,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL
  • Medications that are sensitive substrates, or substrates with a narrow therapeutic range, for CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 CYP2D6 , CYP3A4, P-gP, BCRP and OATP1B1 should be avoided with opaganib
  • Moderate or strong inhibitors of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2D6 or P-gP or moderate to strong inducers of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 are prohibited
  • Currently taking warfarin, apixaban, argatroban or rivaroxaban due to drug-drug interaction based on CYP450 metabolism
  • Current drug or alcohol abuse
  • Currently participating in a clinical study assessing pharmacological treatments, including anti-viral studies
  • Treatment with any medication that causes QT prolongation within seven days, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longest, prior to initiation of study drug, or intention to use them throughout the study, including but not limited to: amiodarone, amitriptyline, citalopram dose greater than 20 mg/day, dihydroergotamine, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, ergotamine, ibutilde, ondansetron or other 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, quinine, quinolone, ranolazine, risperidone, sotaloland tolteridine. Investigators are directed to the following up-to-date web site listing QT prolonging drugs: https://www.crediblemeds.org/index.php/drugsearch

Trial locations and contacts

57 sites in 10 countries.

57 sites in 10 countries

Russia15 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 110

    Barnaul

  • ABC-201 Site 122

    Kirovsk

  • ABC-201 Site 101

    Moscow

  • ABC-201 Site 132

    Moscow

  • ABC-201 Site 120

    Murmansk

  • ABC-201 Site 103

    Ryazan

  • ABC-201 Site 114

    Ryazan

  • ABC-201 Site 109

    Saint Petersburg

  • ABC-201 Site 111

    Saint Petersburg

  • ABC-201 Site 129

    Saint Petersburg

  • ABC-201 Site 108

    Saratov

  • ABC-201 Site 102

    Smolensk

  • ABC-201 Site 104

    Tver'

  • ABC-201 Site 118

    Volgograd

  • ABC-201 Site 112

    Yaroslavl

Other trials in Russia

Brazil10 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 408

    Belo Horizonte

  • ABC-201 Site 411

    Belo Horizonte

  • ABC-201 Site 405

    Joinville

  • ABC-201 Site 404

    Paraná

  • ABC-201 Site 410

    Passo Fundo

  • ABC-201 Site 409

    Porto Alegre

  • ABC-201 Site 402

    São Bernardo do Campo

  • ABC-201 Site 401

    São Paulo

  • ABC-201 Site 403

    São Paulo

  • ABC-201 Site 407

    Tubarão

Other trials in Brazil

Israel8 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 702

    Ashdod

  • ABC-201 Site 708

    Ashkelon, Ashketon

  • ABC-201 Site 704

    Holon

  • ABC-201 Site 701

    Jerusalem

  • ABC-201,Site 709

    Kfar Saba

  • ABC-201 Site 705

    Nahariya

  • ABC-201 Site 706

    Nazareth

  • ABC-201 Site 703

    Safed

Other trials in Israel

Poland8 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 303

    Bolesławiec

  • ABC-201 Site 306

    Katowice

  • ABC-201 Site 304

    Koszalin

  • ABC-201 Site 308

    Lodz

  • ABC-201 Site 307

    Lublin

  • ABC-201 Site 302

    Ostróda

  • ABC-201 Site 301

    Racibórz

  • ABC-201 Site 305

    Wroclaw

Other trials in Poland

Colombia5 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 603

    Bogotá

  • ABC-201 Site 605

    Cundinamarca

  • ABC-201 Site 604

    Medellín, Antioquia

  • ABC-201 Site 602

    Medellín

  • ABC-201 Site 601

    Santiago de Cali

Other trials in Colombia

Italy4 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 203

    Alessandria

  • ABC-201 Site 201

    Lecco

  • ABC-201 Site 202

    Milan

  • ABC-201 Site 204

    Torino

Other trials in Italy

United Kingdom3 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 253

    Antrim

  • ABC-201 Site 251

    Gillingham

  • ABC-201 Site 252

    Taunton

Other trials in United Kingdom

Mexico2 sites
  • ABC-201 Site 501

    Mexico City

  • ABC-201 Site 503

    Sinaloa

Other trials in Mexico

United States1 site
  • ABC-201 Site 901

    Detroit, Michigan, 00000

Other trials in United States

Peru1 site
  • ABC-201 Site 655

    Lima

Other trials in Peru

About this study

Official title: Opaganib, a Sphingosine Kinase-2 (SK2) Inhibitor in COVID-19 Pneumonia: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2/3 Study, in Adult Subjects Hospitalized With Severe SARS-CoV-2 Positive Pneumonia

A phase 2/3 multi-center randomized, double-blind, parallel arm, placebo- controlled study in Adult Subjects Hospitalized with Severe SARS-CoV-2 Positive Pneumonia to determine the potential of opaganib to improve and/or stabilize the clinical status of the patient.

Read the detailed description

This is a phase 2/3 multi-center randomized, double-blind, parallel arm, placebo- controlled study with an adaptive design that will utilize a futility assessment. The study is planned be performed worldwide in up to approximately 80 clinical sites.

After informed consent is obtained, patients will enter a screening phase for no more than 3 days, to determine eligibility. Approximately 464 eligible patients will be randomized and receive either opaganib added to standard of care, or matching placebo added to standard of care, in a randomization ratio of 1:1. Treatment assignments will remain blinded to the patient, investigator and hospital staff, as well as the sponsor. As the approval and/or guidance for treating COVID-19 are evolving, for this protocol, standard of care will be defined by the recommended schemes of treatment according to the severity of the disease, taking into consideration regulatory approvals in one or more regions.

Study participants will receive either opaganib 2 x 250 mg capsules (500 mg) every 12 hours, or matching placebo, in addition to standard of care (pharmacological as defined above and/or supportive) at any given institution. Study drug will be administered every day for 14 days (Day 1 to Day 14). All participants will be followed up for 28 days after their last dose of study drug, which may occur at Day 14 or after premature study drug discontinuation, based upon patient or physician determination.

Being tested
Opaganib, Placebo
Keywords
Therapeutic Use
Medical subject headings
COVID-19

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • OpaganibDrug

    Also called Yeliva, ABC294640

    Study participants will receive either opaganib 2 x 250 mg capsules (500 mg) every 12 hours, or matching placebo, in addition to standard of care (pharmacological as defined above and/or supportive) at any given institution. Study drug will be administered every day for 14 days (Day 1 to Day 14).

  • PlaceboDrug

    Study participants will receive either opaganib 2 x 250 mg capsules (500 mg) every 12 hours, or matching placebo, in addition to standard of care (pharmacological as defined above and/or supportive) at any given institution. Study drug will be administered every day for 14 days (Day 1 to Day 14).

Study groups in NCT04467840
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
OpaganibExperimentalIn addition to standard of care, opaganib will be administered orally with 2 x 250 mg capsules (500 mg) every 12 hours. When required this may be made into a suspension form and may be administered by nasogastric tube.
Receives: Drug: Opaganib
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorIn addition to standard of care, a matching placebo will be administered orally with 2 x 250 mg capsules (500 mg) every 12 hours. Where required this may be made into a suspension form and may be administered by nasogastric tube.
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Supplemental Oxygen Requirement

    To compare the proportion of patients no longer requiring supplemental oxygen for at least 24 hours by Day 14 between subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo.

    Measured: 14 days maintained up to 42 days

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Percentage of Subjects With ≥ 2 Category Improvement on the World Health Organization (WHO) Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement by Day 14 Maintained to Day 42

    Compare ≥2 category improvement on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement from 0(uninfected) to 8(death) for subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo, lower scores indicate improvement. Success was defined as subject who reached improvement of at least two points on the WHO Ordinal Scale by Day 14, maintained by the end of study visit, and failure otherwise.

    Measured: 14 days maintained up to 42 days

  2. Number of Subjects With Improvement to a Score of 3 or Less on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement With a Scale Ranging From 8 Down to 0

    Compare scores of subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo, lower scores indicate improvement to determine time to recovery as defined by improvement to a score of 3 or less on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement with a scale ranging from 0 (uninfected) to 8 (death)

    Measured: 14 days maintained up to 42 days

  3. Number of Participants With Low Oxygen Flow Via Nasal Cannula

    To compare the time to low oxygen flow via nasal cannula e.g. from high oxygen flow via nasal cannula or CPAP, if high oxygen flow is not an available option between subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo.

    Measured: 14 days maintained up to 42 days

  4. Time to Discharge From Hospital Measured at 14 Days

    Time to subject discharge from hospital

    Measured: 14 days

  5. Patients Requiring Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation by Day 42

    To compare the proportion of patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation between subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo.

    Measured: 42 days

  6. Number of Patients With Two Consecutive Negative Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 at Day 14

    To compare the number of patients with two consecutive negative swabs for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR at Day 14 between subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo.

    Measured: 14 days

  7. Patients With Negative Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 at Day 14

    To compare the proportion of patients with two consecutive negative swabs for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR at Day 14 between subjects taking opaganib and those on placebo.

    Measured: 14 days

  8. Mortality Due to Any Cause

    To compare mortality 28 days post-baseline between subjects taking opaganib and those taking placebo

    Measured: 28 days

  9. Mortality Due to Any Cause

    To compare mortality 42 days post-baseline between subjects taking opaganib and those taking placebo

    Measured: 42 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Jul 2020
  2. Study start21 Aug 2020
  3. Primary completion18 Jul 2021
  4. Study completion18 Jul 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
475 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04467840
Sponsor's protocol ID
ABC-201
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
9 Jul 2020
Last updated
31 Jul 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing Opaganib in people with COVID-19 and Lung Infection, run by RedHill Biopharma Limited at 57 sites in 10 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 21 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 57 sites in Russia, Brazil, Israel, Poland, Colombia and 5 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 19 Oct 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Supplemental Oxygen Requirement (time frame: 14 days maintained up to 42 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 31 Jul 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in