Could a common liver drug help fight severe COVID-19?
NCT ID NCT04374461
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether N-acetylcysteine, a drug already used for acetaminophen overdose and lung mucus, can help severe COVID-19 patients by boosting their immune system. About 48 critically ill adults will receive the drug alongside standard care. The goal is to see if it helps them leave the ICU or come off a ventilator.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
N-acetylcysteine
What this could lead to
If it works, this could provide a new treatment option to help severe COVID-19 patients recover faster and leave the ICU or ventilator.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 48 participants, so results may not apply broadly. N-acetylcysteine is not yet proven for COVID-19, and side effects are possible.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York, 10065, United States