A randomized parallel double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) compared with placebo on the risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in healthcare workers with high transmission risk in addition to currently recommended control measures.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phase III clinical trial for a new indication Rationale One of the most affected subgroups during the current pandemic is represented by healthcare workers. In Argentina between 14 and 17% of the total COVID-19 cases are represented by this subgroup. In this sense, it appears as an adequate strategy testing the efficacy of pharmacological PrEP approaches on top of the currently recommended control measures. The use of placebo is warranted for two main reasons: all healthcare workers will be allowed and encouraged to comply with non-pharmacological infection control measures for the protection of viral transmission. On the other hand, the use of a blinded placebo is intended for avoiding relaxation of the non-pharmacological control measures. Tenofovir has been identified by both docking and in vitro studies as an inhibitor of RdRp (RNA dependent RNA polymerase) of coronavirus. FTC/TAF has the additional advantage that is already being used in a pre-exposure prophylaxis setting and its safety is widely known. Main objective To evaluate the risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in healthcare workers with high transmission risk in addition to currently recommended control measures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
1,378
Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) in 200 mg/25 mg tablets. A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks
A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks.
Sociedad Argentina de Infectología, A. J. Carranza 974
Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.D., Argentina
COVID-19 incident cases
SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) with or without symptoms at week 12 of treatment as defined by the presence of specific antibodies against the virus. Positive cases will be confirmed by PCR
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
Number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infections confirmed by serology
Number of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infections confirmed by serology
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
Severity of symptomatic COVID-19
Severity of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infections as defined by the following categories: * Mild symptoms: malaise, fever, cough, arthralgia myalgias, * Moderate symptoms: same as above plus shortness of breath * Severe symptoms: clinical status requiring admission in Intensive care unit
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
Respiratory symptom duration in days
Respiratory symptom duration in days
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
Relation between treatments and symptoms duration
Relation between treatments and symptoms duration
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
Time course of specific IgM/IgG seroconversion
Time course of specific IgM/IgG seroconversion
Time frame: During treatment (12 weeks)
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