Purpose

This is a multi-center, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled (RCT) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dapsone in older adults, and/or in adult patients (≥40yrs of age) with at least one high-risk comorbidity, among those with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. 3000 infected patients diagnosed with COVID-19, non-hospitalized at the time of enrollment, meeting all inclusion and no exclusion criteria will be randomized (1:1 allocation ratio) to receive either Dapsone or placebo tablets for 21 days, and will be followed up for 7 days after treatment termination for outcome assessment and up to 30 days for safety monitoring.

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 40 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Male or female aged ≥ 40 years; 2. Symptomatic adults with confirmed COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2 PCR positive) for at least 24 hrs. and no more than 7 days: by report or observation, including one or more of the following: temperature ≥ 38°C (≥100.4°F), chills or shivering, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, muscle or body ache, anosmia (loss of smell) and/or dysgeusia (loss of taste), GI symptoms (nausea and/or vomiting); (3a) Aged ≥70 years or above, presence of concomitant comorbidity not required for inclusion or (3b) Aged ≥40 to <70 years, and presence of at least one of the following concomitant comorbidities by report, history, or observation: - Cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension, coronary artery diseases, congestive heart failure, symptomatic arrhythmia, transient brain ischemia, stroke) - Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, pulmonary fibrosis) - Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m^2) - Type 2 Diabetes - Cancer (participant reported: stable >6 months as per treating doctor/oncologist) - Autoimmune diseases (T1D, RA, PA, MS, IBD, AD, SS, HT, SLE) (4) Participant is considered suitable for continued management in the out-patient setting. (5) Non-pregnant non-breastfeeding women of reproductive age group not planning pregnancy and/or adopting advised contraception during the study and for 3 months after the last dose of study medication.

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Unable to provide consent; diagnosis of dementia or other significant neurocognitive disorder; 2. Current hospitalization; 3. Patient requiring long term oxygen treatment of > 5 L O2/min because of a chronic lung condition at time of recruitment; 4. Known intolerance/allergy to sulfone; 5. Pregnant or breastfeeding women or is considering becoming pregnant during the study and for 3 months after the last dose of study medication; 6. Concurrent malignancy on systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy; 7. Significantly impaired renal function within the past year reported by history and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min at screening 8. Severely underweight (≤ 40 kg) 9. G6PD deficiency (previous jaundice, jaundice with foods such as beans, or medication such as sulfa drugs, NSAIDs, quinolones, hydroxychloroquine or vitamin C), significant blood dyscrasia or anemia (Hb <12.0 g/dL in women and <13.0 g/dL in men; platelet count <50 x 10^9/L or < lower limit of normal at screening) 10. Impairment liver function [> 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening at screening for AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, albumin or bilirubin), liver cirrhosis or hepatitis 11. Current use of folic acid antagonists (such as pyrimethamine), nitrofurantoin or primaquine 12. Currently taking oral dapsone for dermatological or other indications 13. Currently taking hydroxychloroquine or if have taken it within the last 6 months 14. Currently on any of the following medications: Aminolevulinic acid; Cladribine; Clozapine; Deferiprone; Prilocaine; Saquinavir; Sodium nitrite, Rifampin or St. John's wort 15. Received any of the following vaccines in the last 1 year : Cholera vaccine live; Typhoid vaccine, live; BCG (Bacillus Calmette and Guérin) 16. Currently taking any the following anticonvulsants : carbamazepine, phenytoin, levetiracetam and gabapentin 17. Currently participating in other interventional trials 18. Inability to provide contact details of caregiver/ next of kin to be contacted for study follow-up as participant's surrogate 19. Currently taking trimethoprim

Study Design

Phase
Phase 3
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
This is a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study. Following e-signature of the informed consent form, approximately 3000 participants meeting all inclusion criteria and no exclusion criteria will be randomized to receive either Dapsone or placebo (1:1 allocation ratio) for 21 days. Screening blood-work and confirmatory tests are made available to participants at their residence by the study. Study interventions (drugs or placebo) will be delivered directly to participants by courier . Participants are remotely followed-up through e-daily diary during 21 days of treatment along with virtual visits (phone) at 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 51 days following randomization for evaluation of the occurrence of any trial endpoints or other adverse events. During study enrollment patients are linked to the study through their participant account on the study virtual care platform.
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Triple (Participant, study staff and data analyst)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Treatment
Participants will receive standard of care and Dapsone per os (PO) twice daily for 21 days. If a dose is missed, it should not be replaced. Dosage form: Dapsone oral tablet
  • Drug: Dapsone 85 mg PO BID
    Participants will receive standard of care and study medication Dapsone 85 mg per os (PO) twice daily for 21 days. If a dose is missed, it will not be replaced.
    Other names:
    • diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS)
Placebo Comparator
Control
Participants will receive standard of care and placebo per os (PO) twice daily for 21 days. If a dose is missed, it should not be replaced. Dosage form: Placebo oral tablet
  • Drug: Placebo 85 mg PO BID
    Placebo oral tablet, twice daily for 21 days.
    Other names:
    • Placebo

Recruiting Locations

Peters Medical Research, LLC
High Point, North Carolina 27262
Contact:
Sharon Mills
336-883-9773
sharonm@petersmedicalresearch.com

Principle Research Solutions
Spokane, Washington 99204

More Details

NCT ID
NCT04935476
Status
Unknown status
Sponsor
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Study Contact

Sharmistha Biswas
1-866-327-2728
sharmistha.biswas@mail.mcgill.ca

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether early treatment with Dapsone reduces pulmonary complications related to COVID-19 and consequent hospitalization in high-risk group of elderly adults and adults (≥40yrs of age) with comorbidity. The secondary objectives are to determine the effect of Dapsone on reducing severe complications related to COVID-19 (ICU, intubation and death) and the safety of treatment with Dapsone in this high-risk COVID-19 patient population. 3000 patients will be enrolled to receive either Dapsone or placebo (1:1 allocation ratio) for 21 days. Follow-up assessments will occur remotely through participant e-daily diary and virtual visits (electronically via internet and/or telephone) at Day 1(start of study drug), 7, 14, 21, 28 and 51 following randomization in order to document the occurrence of any trial endpoints. Safety and efficacy will be based on data from randomized patients. An independent data and safety monitoring committee (DSMC) will periodically review study results and will make recommendations to the study Steering Committee for continuing the trial as planned (or with modification) or for stopping early for safety concerns.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.