COVID-19 drug trial halted early: only 16 patients enrolled
NCT ID NCT04880109
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested an experimental drug called APX-115 in hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. The goal was to see if it was safe and could help people recover faster. However, the trial was stopped early and only 16 people took part, so we don't have enough information to know if the drug works or is safe.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- APX-115 (oral capsule)
- What this could lead to
- If it worked, APX-115 could offer a new oral treatment option for mild to moderate COVID-19, potentially speeding recovery.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early with only 16 participants, far short of the planned 80. This means results are very limited and no conclusions can be drawn about effectiveness or safety.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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16 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2021
- Finished
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Apr 2022
- Lead sponsor
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An individual researcher
The lead sponsor is a named person rather than an organisation.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Willing and able to provide informed consent themselves or through their legally authorized representative. 2. Male or female patients, of any race or ethnicity, 18 to 80 years of age, inclusive, on the day of informed consent. Racial and ethnic minorities should be included in the study population to the greatest extent possible. 3. Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined within 14 days of randomization by real time RT-PCR or other commercial or public health assay authorized by FDA or other applicable health authority . 4. Onset of COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days prior to randomization. 5. Have at least one of the following symptoms at screening: fever, cough, shortness of breath, myalgia, ageusia, anosmia, fatigue, or weakness. 6. Hospitalized with COVID-19 disease (WHO COVID-19 Clinical Improvement Ordinal Scale score of 3 \[hospitalized, no oxygen therapy\], 4 \[hospitalized, oxygen by mask or nasal prongs\], or 5 \[high-flow oxygen or non-invasive mechanical ventilation\]) 7. Patient is aware of the investigational nature of this study and willing to comply with protocol treatments, blood tests, and other evaluations listed in the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Females who are pregnant (negative pregnancy test required for all women of childbearing potential at screening) or breastfeeding. 2. Male patients and women of childbearing potential (women who are not surgically sterile or postmenopausal defined as postmenopausal for \>12 months) who are not using at least one protocol specified method of contraception. 3. COVID-19 disease as defined by the WHO COVID-19 Clinical Improvement Ordinal Scale, scores of 6 (intubation and mechanical ventilation) or 7 (ventilation + additional organ support - pressors, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). 4. Expected survival less than 72 hours. 5. Treatment with other drugs thought to possibly have activity against SARS CoV 2 infection within 7 days or within 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to enrollment or concurrently. Drugs that have received FDA emergency use authorization or COVID-19 approval are allowed. 6. Treatment with immunosuppressants, combination of 2 or more RAS blockers, UGT inhibitors and inducers, herbal/natural supplements, potassium-sparing diuretic, and radiographic contrast agent prior to enrollment or concurrently. 7. History of abuse of drugs or alcohol that could interfere with adherence to study requirements as judged by the investigator. 8. Use of any other concurrent investigational drugs while participating in the present study. 9. Patient requires frequent or prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids (≥20 mg of prednisone/day or equivalent for \>4 weeks) or other immunosuppressive drugs (eg, for organ transplantation or autoimmune conditions). 10. Known renal disease with an estimated glomerular filtration rate \<30 mL/min. 11. Patients with clinically apparent liver disease (eg, jaundice, cholestasis, hepatic synthetic impairment, or active hepatitis) or moderate or severe hepatic impairment as determined by Child-Pugh score Class B or C. 12. Alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) \>3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) AND total bilirubin levels \>2 × ULN OR ALT or AST \>5 × ULN. 13. Total bilirubin \>1.5 × ULN, unless the patient has known Gilbert's syndrome. 14. Hemoglobin \<9 g/dL for females or \<11 g/dL for males. 15. Absolute neutrophil count \<1500/mm3. 16. Thrombocytopenia (platelets count \<100 × 109/L). 17. Inability to swallow oral medications or a gastrointestinal disorder with diarrhea (eg, Crohn's disease) or malabsorption at screening. 18. Any other clinically significant medical condition or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the patient or potentially impact patient compliance or the safety/efficacy observations in the study. 19. History of an allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to the study drug or any component of the study drug formulation.
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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
Locations
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Anne Arundel Medical Center
Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, United States
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FASN, FAHA; John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
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FCCP; Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Jamaica, New York, 11418, United States
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MSc, FAAN; Metro Health Hospital - Professional Building
Wyoming, Michigan, 49519, United States
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Medical City Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas, 76104, United States
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TriHealth Bethesda North Hospital
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242, United States
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- Can an oral drug stop COVID-19 from turning deadly?
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