A Study of N-acetylcysteine in Patients With COVID-19 Infection

Phase 2Active Not RecruitingNCT04374461

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center48 enrolled

Overview

The study researchers think that a medication called N-acetylcysteine can help fight the COVID-19 virus by boosting a type of cell in your immune system that attacks infections. By helping your immune system fight the virus, the researchers think that the infection will get better, which could allow the patient to be moved out of the critical care unit or go off a ventilator, or prevent them from moving into a critical care unit or going on a ventilator. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved N-acetylcysteine to treat the liver side effects resulting from an overdose of the anti-inflammatory medication Tylenol® (acetaminophen). N-acetylcysteine is also used to loosen the thick mucus in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study is the first to test N-acetylcysteine in people with severe COVID-19 infections.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Covid-19

Interventions

Patients in both arms will receive N-acetylcysteine IV 6 g/day in addition to supportive and/or COVID-19 directed treatments at the discretion of the treating physician. Treatment interruptions for up to 48 hours are permissible if there is a clinical indication to hold the study drug. Patients can restart drug if they have been off drug for less than 48 hours. Patients are also eligible to restart N-acetylcysteine treatment on the same treatment arm without reconsent if they are within the 30 day followup period after their prior course of treatment on this protocol.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Documented COVID-19 infection (either performed on site or documented external report) * Age ≥ 18 Arm A: * Admission to an intensive care unit at MSK (M-11) and/or receiving mechanical ventilation * Absolute lymphocyte count ≤ 1.0/mm3 * As the ALC of patients with lymphoid malignancies is unreliable, they may be enrolled at the discretion of the treating physician after review of their blood work. Arm B: * Arm B:Requiring 2L or more of supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula or higher to maintain SpO2 of 95% Exclusion Criteria: Arm B: * requiring mechanical ventilation or admission to an intensive care unit at MSK (M11)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Arm A: number of patients who are successfully extubated and/or transferred out of critical care due to clinical improvement

Time frame: 1 year

Arm B: number of patients who are discharged from the hospital due to clinical improvement