Oral Probenecid for Nonhospitalized Adults with Symptomatic Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

Probenecid is an orally bioavailable, uricosuric agent that was first approved in 1951 for the treatment of gout, but later found to have potent, broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind, dose-range finding study non-hospitalized patients with symptomatic, mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 ratio receive either 500 mg probenecid, 1000 or matching placebo every 12 h five days. The patients’ COVID-19 viral load hospitalization, death from any cause through day 28, as well safety, evaluated. COVID-19-related symptoms assessed at baseline, and on days 3, 5, 10, 15, 28. primary endpoints time negative SARS-CoV-2 test (or clearance) proportion symptom-free 5. A total 75 25 each group. All completed planned no hospitalizations deaths being reported. median clearance significantly shorter probenecid group than (7 vs. 11 days, respectively; p < 0.0001), versus (9 0.0001). In addition, 9 reported least one symptom 3 5; however, greater receiving complete resolution (68% 20%, = 0.0006), those (56% respectively, 0.0087). incidence adverse events during similar across all groups event, 12%. mild serious discontinuations due event. resulted significant, dose-dependent decrease higher reporting by 10. (Supported TrippBio; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05442983 Clinical Trials Registry India number CTRI/2022/07/043726).