Can an antiviral drug help sepsis patients breathe on their own sooner?

NCT ID NCT04706507

Terminated Disease control Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested whether the antiviral drug ganciclovir could prevent reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in adults with sepsis who needed a breathing machine. The study enrolled 205 CMV-positive patients in the ICU with acute respiratory failure. Participants received either ganciclovir or a placebo for up to 28 days. The goal was to see if the drug increased the number of days they were free from breathing support. The trial was terminated early, so the full results are not available.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Ganciclovir (an antiviral drug)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could reduce the time patients with sepsis need a breathing machine, potentially improving recovery.
What could go wrong: The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. Ganciclovir can cause side effects like kidney problems or low blood cell counts.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute respiratory failure infectious disease with sepsis cytomegalovirus infection prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUTE RESPIRATORY FAILURE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham & Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27708, United States
Harborview Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States
Henry Ford Hospital

Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
Intermountain Medical Center

Murray, Utah, 84107, United States
Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland, 21218, United States
Medical College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States
Montefioure Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States
Ohio State University Medical Center

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221, United States
University of Colorado Denver

Denver, Colorado, 80204, United States
University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-5360, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, United States
University of Vermont College of Medicine

Burlington, Vermont, 05405, United States
University of Washington Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee, 37235, United States
Wakeforest University, School of Medicine

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
Washington University

St Louis, Missouri, 63130, United States

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