COVID-19 has rapidly evolved into a generalized global pandemic. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against on COVID-19 was identified as an urgent research priority by the WHO, and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) is a promising candidate for both COVID-19 treatment and PEP, with a good safety profile and global availability. This is a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) of oral LPV/r as PEP against COVID-19, that will address the immediate need for preventive interventions, generate key data on COVID-19 transmission, and serve as a research platform for future vaccines and preventive agents.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
123
The intervention is a 14-day course of LPV/r 400/100 mg orally twice daily, or equivalent weight-based dosing, to be initiated as soon as possible (within 1-7 days) after the last exposure.
St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Sunnybrook Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto General Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Microbiologic evidence of infection
The primary outcome is microbiologically confirmed COVID-19 infection, ie. detection of viral RNA in a respiratory specimen (mid-turbinate swab, nasopharyngeal swab, sputum specimen, saliva specimen, oral swab, endotracheal aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage specimen) by day 14 of the study.
Time frame: 14 days
Adverse events
a) Adverse events: as defined using the DAIDS Table for Grading the Severity of Adverse Events, at 7, 14, 28 \& 90 days
Time frame: 90 days
Symptomatic COVID-19 disease
fever, cough or other respiratory/ systemic symptoms (including but not limited to fatigue, myalgias, arthralgias, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, chills, coryza, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) by day 14 in a patient with laboratory confirmed infection, combined with microbiologic confirmation of COVID-19 infection in the participant.
Time frame: 14 days
Seropositivity
Reactive serology to SARS-CoV-2
Time frame: 28 days
Days of hospitalization attributable to COVID-19 disease
The number of days (or partial days) spent admitted to an acute care hospital will be tabulated both at day 28 and day 90
Time frame: 90 days
Respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support attributable to COVID-19 disease
The number of days (or partial days) requiring i) non-invasive and ii) endotracheal intubation with ventilation will be tabulated both at day 28 and day 90.
Time frame: 90 days
Mortality
Death attributable to COVID-19 disease and all-cause mortality
Time frame: 90 days
Short-term psychological impact of exposure to COVID-19 disease
Short-term psychological distress will be measured using the K10, with a standard cutoff score of ≥16.
Time frame: 28 days
Long-term psychological impact of exposure to COVID-19 disease
Long-term impact will be measured at day 90 using the Impact of Event Scale, a validated measure of traumatic stress response, using a standard cutoff score of ≥26
Time frame: 90 days
Health-related quality of life
Health-related quality of life will be measured using the EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol-5D). The EQ-5D consists of two pages: the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The tool will be administered to participants at 1, 14, 28 and 90 days.
Time frame: 90 days
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