Corona Virus InfectionPhase 4NCT04621461
Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate Zinc for the Treatment of COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting
A Phase 4 study testing Zinc Sulfate 220 MG in people with Corona Virus Infection, run by St. Francis Hospital, New York at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of zinc in a higher risk COVID-19 positive outpatient population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Corona Virus Infection
- What is being tested?
- Zinc Sulfate 220 MG
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 3 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 20 Dec 2020to 8 Feb 2021
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 30 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Able to read and understand informed consent.
- High initial clinical suspicion by physician based on signs and symptoms (fever, cough, myalgias, fatigue, shortness of breath) followed by confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis
- Any gender
- Age 60 years and older
- Age 30-59 years with one or more of the following:
- abnormal lung exam
Show all 10Show fewer
- abnormal oxygen saturation <95%
- abnormal Chest X-ray or chest CT
- persistent fever >100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
- one of the following co-morbidities: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, history of coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), asthma, COPD, current or former smoker, or morbid obesity (Body Mass Index ≥35)
Who cannot join
- Severe COVID-19 requiring admission for inpatient treatment
- Need for any oxygen supplementation
- Need for mechanical ventilatory support
- History of oxygen supplementation dependency
- History of cancer with ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Known hypersensitivity to zinc
- Severe renal disease: Glomerular Filtration Rate <30ml/min
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center
Roslyn, New York, 11576
About this study
Official title: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Zinc for the Treatment of COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of zinc in a higher risk COVID-19 positive outpatient population.
Read the detailed description
Zinc, a micronutrient, appears to have anti-viral properties with various mechanisms of action depending on the concentration Zinc supplementation has been reviewed extensively for use in the common cold, and has been shown to reduce the duration of symptoms. In-vitro studies have shown zinc can inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) in coronavirus, which is typically a conserved region in the viral genome. In-vitro experiments have also shown that lung epithelium in a zinc depleted state can become susceptible to apoptosis and loss of barrier function, increasing permeability, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
If a patient can travel to St. Francis Hospital they can have a COVID test on site at a designated St. Francis testing location. The COVID test will be resulted via a rapid Covid (Point of Care device) or at a local lab.
Patients who are unable to travel to St. Francis Hospital or one of the outpatient practices, will be allowed to enroll remotely. Patients are eligible to enroll within 72 hours of a positive Covid-19 test result. Study medications will be mailed to the patient overnight after being enrolled.
- Conditions
- Corona Virus Infection
- Being tested
- Zinc Sulfate 220 MG, Placebo
- Keywords
- COVID-19, Zinc
- Medical subject headings
- Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Zinc Sulfate 220 MGDietary supplement
220mg once daily for 5 days
PlaceboDrug
Once daily for 5 days
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Arm #1 | Placebo comparator | Placebo Receives: Drug: Placebo |
| Experimental Arm #2 | Experimental | Zinc sulfate Receives: Dietary Supplement: Zinc Sulfate 220 MG |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of participants hospitalized and/or requiring repeat emergency room visits
COVID-19 related complications that require the participant to be hospitalized or have an emergency room visit
Measured: 21 days
Number of participants admitted to the Intensive care unit (ICU)
If hospitalized, number of participants admitted to the ICU, and number of days in the ICU
Measured: 30 days
Number of participants on a ventilator
If placed on ventilator, number of days on a ventilator
Measured: 30 days
Secondary outcomes (3)
All-cause mortality
Total number of deaths in the cohort.
Measured: Up to 30 days
Time to resolution of COVID-19 symptoms
Time at which the patient is completely symptom free.
Measured: Evaluated at day 2, 6, day 14, and day 21
Severity of symptoms
Scored by the participant for feverishness, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, myalgias. (0 =none; 1 = mild; 2 = moderate; 3 = severe)
Measured: Evaluated at day 2, 6, day 14, and day 21
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Nov 2020
- Study start20 Dec 2020
- Primary completion8 Feb 2021
- Study completion8 Feb 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (9)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Corona Virus InfectionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 4
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of zinc in a higher risk COVID-19 positive outpatient population. Patients will randomized to zinc or placebo.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 3 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- St. Francis Hospital, New York
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Avni Thakore, MD, Principal investigator, St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04621461
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 20-19
- Status last verified
- Feb 2021
- First submitted
- 6 Nov 2020
- Last updated
- 11 Feb 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Wu C, Liu Y, Yang Y, Zhang P, Zhong W, Wang Y, Wang Q, Xu Y, Li M, Li X, Zheng M, Chen L, Li H. Analysis of therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of potential drugs by computational methods. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2020 May;10(5):766-788. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Feb 27.
PubMed 32292689Korant BD, Butterworth BE. Inhibition by zinc of rhinovirus protein cleavage: interaction of zinc with capsid polypeptides. J Virol. 1976 Apr;18(1):298-306. doi: 10.1128/JVI.18.1.298-306.1976.
PubMed 176466Katz E, Margalith E. Inhibition of vaccinia virus maturation by zinc chloride. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1981 Feb;19(2):213-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.19.2.213.
PubMed 7347557Kumel G, Schrader S, Zentgraf H, Daus H, Brendel M. The mechanism of the antiherpetic activity of zinc sulphate. J Gen Virol. 1990 Dec;71 ( Pt 12):2989-97. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-71-12-2989.
PubMed 2177090Suara RO, Crowe JE Jr. Effect of zinc salts on respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Mar;48(3):783-90. doi: 10.1128/AAC.48.3.783-790.2004.
PubMed 14982765Eby GA, Davis DR, Halcomb WW. Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984 Jan;25(1):20-4. doi: 10.1128/AAC.25.1.20.
PubMed 6367635te Velthuis AJ, van den Worm SH, Sims AC, Baric RS, Snijder EJ, van Hemert MJ. Zn(2+) inhibits coronavirus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture. PLoS Pathog. 2010 Nov 4;6(11):e1001176. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001176.
PubMed 21079686Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 18;(6):CD001364. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4.
PubMed 23775705Bao S, Knoell DL. Zinc modulates airway epithelium susceptibility to death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Mar;290(3):L433-41. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00341.2005. Epub 2005 Nov 11.
PubMed 16284213
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Feb 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Zinc for the Treatment of COVID-19 in the Outpatient Setting
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04621461
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 20-19
- Conditions
- Corona Virus Infection
- Keywords
- COVID-19, Zinc
- Phase
- Phase 4
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 3 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- St. Francis Hospital, New YorkUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Dec 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Feb 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Nov 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of zinc in a higher risk COVID-19 positive outpatient population.
Detailed description
Zinc, a micronutrient, appears to have anti-viral properties with various mechanisms of action depending on the concentration Zinc supplementation has been reviewed extensively for use in the common cold, and has been shown to reduce the duration of symptoms. In-vitro studies have shown zinc can inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) in coronavirus, which is typically a conserved region in the viral genome. In-vitro experiments have also shown that lung epithelium in a zinc depleted state can become susceptible to apoptosis and loss of barrier function, increasing permeability, which can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
If a patient can travel to St. Francis Hospital they can have a COVID test on site at a designated St. Francis testing location. The COVID test will be resulted via a rapid Covid (Point of Care device) or at a local lab.
Patients who are unable to travel to St. Francis Hospital or one of the outpatient practices, will be allowed to enroll remotely. Patients are eligible to enroll within 72 hours of a positive Covid-19 test result. Study medications will be mailed to the patient overnight after being enrolled.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of zinc in a higher risk COVID-19 positive outpatient population. Patients will randomized to zinc or placebo.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental Arm #1 | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboPlacebo |
| Experimental Arm #2 | Experimental | Dietary Supplement: Zinc Sulfate 220 MGZinc sulfate |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Able to read and understand informed consent.
- High initial clinical suspicion by physician based on signs and symptoms (fever, cough, myalgias, fatigue, shortness of breath) followed by confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis
- Any gender
- Age 60 years and older
- Age 30-59 years with one or more of the following:
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Severe COVID-19 requiring admission for inpatient treatment
- Need for any oxygen supplementation
- Need for mechanical ventilatory support
- History of oxygen supplementation dependency
- History of cancer with ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc Sulfate 220 MG220mg once daily for 5 days | Dietary supplement | Experimental Arm #2 |
| PlaceboOnce daily for 5 days | Drug | Experimental Arm #1 |
Primary outcome
Number of participants hospitalized and/or requiring repeat emergency room visits
Time frame: 21 days
COVID-19 related complications that require the participant to be hospitalized or have an emergency room visit
Number of participants admitted to the Intensive care unit (ICU)
Time frame: 30 days
If hospitalized, number of participants admitted to the ICU, and number of days in the ICU
Number of participants on a ventilator
Time frame: 30 days
If placed on ventilator, number of days on a ventilator
3 secondary outcomes
All-cause mortality
Time frame: Up to 30 days
Time to resolution of COVID-19 symptoms
Time frame: Evaluated at day 2, 6, day 14, and day 21
Severity of symptoms
Time frame: Evaluated at day 2, 6, day 14, and day 21
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Feb 2021.
- Background: PubMed 32292689Wu C, Liu Y, Yang Y, Zhang P, Zhong W, Wang Y, Wang Q, Xu Y, Li M, Li X, Zheng M, Chen L, Li H. Analysis of therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2 and discovery of potential drugs by computational methods. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2020 May;10(5):766-788. doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Feb 27.
- Background: PubMed 176466Korant BD, Butterworth BE. Inhibition by zinc of rhinovirus protein cleavage: interaction of zinc with capsid polypeptides. J Virol. 1976 Apr;18(1):298-306. doi: 10.1128/JVI.18.1.298-306.1976.
- Background: PubMed 7347557Katz E, Margalith E. Inhibition of vaccinia virus maturation by zinc chloride. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1981 Feb;19(2):213-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.19.2.213.
- Background: PubMed 2177090Kumel G, Schrader S, Zentgraf H, Daus H, Brendel M. The mechanism of the antiherpetic activity of zinc sulphate. J Gen Virol. 1990 Dec;71 ( Pt 12):2989-97. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-71-12-2989.
- Background: PubMed 14982765Suara RO, Crowe JE Jr. Effect of zinc salts on respiratory syncytial virus replication. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Mar;48(3):783-90. doi: 10.1128/AAC.48.3.783-790.2004.
- Background: PubMed 6367635Eby GA, Davis DR, Halcomb WW. Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984 Jan;25(1):20-4. doi: 10.1128/AAC.25.1.20.
- Background: PubMed 21079686te Velthuis AJ, van den Worm SH, Sims AC, Baric RS, Snijder EJ, van Hemert MJ. Zn(2+) inhibits coronavirus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture. PLoS Pathog. 2010 Nov 4;6(11):e1001176. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001176.
- Background: PubMed 23775705Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 18;(6):CD001364. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub4.
- Background: PubMed 16284213Bao S, Knoell DL. Zinc modulates airway epithelium susceptibility to death receptor-mediated apoptosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Mar;290(3):L433-41. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00341.2005. Epub 2005 Nov 11.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Avni Thakore, MD principal investigator
St. Francis Hospital - The Heart Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 4 study testing Zinc Sulfate 220 MG in people with Corona Virus Infection, run by St. Francis Hospital, New York at 1 site in United States.
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 10 inclusion and 7 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 11 Feb 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. 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 phase mean?
Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Number of participants hospitalized and/or requiring repeat emergency room visits (time frame: 21 days). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04621461, which also lists 9 linked publications.
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 11 Feb 2021.