HOST RESPONSE MEDIATORS IN CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFECTION - IS THERE A PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ARBs ON OUTCOMES OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTION? (ARBs CORONA II)
- Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
- Total publications:0 publications
Grant number: 172629
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Key facts
Disease
COVID-19Start & end year
20202020Known Financial Commitments (USD)
$2,626,971.16Funder
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)Principal Investigator
PendingResearch Location
CanadaLead Research Institution
University of British Columbia MedicineResearch Priority Alignment
N/A
Research Category
Therapeutics research, development and implementation
Research Subcategory
Prophylactic use of treatments
Special Interest Tags
N/A
Study Type
Clinical
Clinical Trial Details
Randomized Controlled Trial
Broad Policy Alignment
Pending
Age Group
Unspecified
Vulnerable Population
Unspecified
Occupations of Interest
Unspecified
Abstract
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and others are actively conducting clinical trials for anti-virals to combat this disease. However, many of the severe complications of COVID-19 are caused by the host's response to viral infection. We have a unique opportunity to complement these ongoing studies with our clinical trial to test how modulating the host response can improve outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We plan to re-purpose a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), which are normally used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. ARBs have been shown to prevent lung injury in influenza (the flu), which is caused by a virus that uses similar mechanisms as SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) to enter human cells. We will recruit 1,732 patients from multiple sites throughout Canada and randomize them to be treated with either Losartan (a commonly prescribed ARB with an excellent safety profile), or to continue under usual care. We will evaluate whether patients who receive Losartan have better outcomes, such as decreased mortality and organ dysfunction, than those who receive usual care. At the same time, we will collect blood samples from these patients to determine whether there are certain molecular "markers" that can predict mortality and their response to Losartan. This study will provide guidance on whether Losartan can be used to limit organ dysfunction and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, ultimately resulting in better care and outcomes for patients during this global pandemic.