Could old drugs beat long COVID? new trial aims to find out

NCT ID NCT06928272

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Douglas D. Fraser Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Phase 3 trial tests two repurposed drugs—upadacitinib and pirfenidone—against a placebo in 348 adults with Long COVID. Participants from six countries will take the drugs for three months to see if they ease symptoms like fatigue, breathing trouble, memory issues, muscle pain, and circulation problems. The study is adaptive, meaning it may adjust based on early results.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: upadacitinib and pirfenidone
What this could lead to: If successful, this could provide a safe, approved treatment option to reduce Long COVID symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and pain.
What could go wrong: This is still an early Phase 3 trial with 348 participants. The drugs are not yet proven for Long COVID, and side effects or lack of benefit are possible.

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.

COVID-19 long COVID-19

As listed by the trial registrant

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

LONG COVID

Contacts and locations

Locations

Centre de Recherche du CHUS (CRCHUS)
RECRUITING

Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani IRCCS
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Roma, Roma, 00149, Italy
Ini-Fiocruz
RECRUITING

Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janerio, 21040-900, Brazil
Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)
RECRUITING

Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1R7, Canada
Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC)
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Kampala, Kampala, 10005, Uganda
Laura Rodriguez Research Institute
RECRUITING

San Diego, California, 92101, United States
Sapienza Università di Roma
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Roma, Roma, 00185, Italy
University Teaching Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lusaka, Lusaka Province, 10100, Zambia
Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Modena, 41124, Italy

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