Long Covid Clinical Trials Announced July 31
RECOVER-VITAL will initially focus on a treatment targeting SARS-CoV-2 persistence, which could occur if the virus stays in the body and causes the immune system to not function properly or organ damage. The first intervention will test a longer dose regimen of the antiviral PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) than is used for treating acute Covid to see if it improves the symptoms of patients with long Covid. The first trial sites have been activated and are enrolling.
RECOVER-NEURO will examine accessible interventions for cognitive dysfunction related to long Covid, including brain fog, memory problems and difficulty with attention, thinking clearly and problem-solving. Interventions under this protocol will include a web-based brain training program called BrainHQ that has been used to improve cognitive function; PASC-Cognitive Recovery, a web-based goal management training program that has been used to improve executive function; and a device used for home-based transcranial direct current stimulation that has been demonstrated to help brain activity and blood flow.
RECOVER-SLEEP will test interventions for changes in sleep patterns or ability to sleep after having Covid-19. A trial for hypersomnia, or excessive daytime sleepiness, will test two wakefulness-promoting drugs compared to a placebo control. A second trial for sleep disturbances, such as problems falling or staying asleep, will test other interventions designed to improve sleep quality to learn if these interventions may help regulate sleep patterns in adults with long Covid.
RECOVER-AUTONOMIC will examine interventions to help treat symptoms associated with problems in the autonomic nervous system, which controls a range of bodily functions including heart rate, breathing and digestive system activity. The initial trial will focus on postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a disorder with a number of symptoms including irregular heartbeat, dizziness and fatigue, and will have multiple study arms.
A fifth platform protocol, focusing on exercise intolerance and fatigue, is under development with input from the patient community and scientific experts.