Cheap gout drug tested as COVID-19 treatment
NCT ID NCT06847204
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This completed trial tested whether colchicine, a cheap anti-inflammatory drug used for gout, can help patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia. Sixty-six patients in Lahore were given the drug to see if it shortens hospital stays and reduces oxygen needs. The goal is to find an affordable treatment option for developing countries.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Colchicine (an anti-inflammatory drug, commonly used for gout)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward an affordable treatment option for COVID-19 pneumonia in developing countries.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (Phase 1/2) with only 66 participants, so results may not be conclusive or apply to all patients. Colchicine also has known side effects.
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
-
Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
-
66 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Feb 2025
- Finished
-
Jun 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 60 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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: * Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection through a PCR test using a nasopharyngeal swab specimen, or the presence of at least two of the following four inflammatory criteria: C-reactive protein (CRP) level \> 4 mg/dL, D-dimer level \> 1 mg/L, ferritin level \> 1000 ng/mL, along with fever ≥ 38 °C and respiratory distress Patients having supplemental oxygen requirement. Patients who provide informed consent to participate in the study. Patients having normal levels of serum Ca2+ and K+; QT interval \<450 ms at 12 derivations ECG (Colchicine has been associated with potential cardiac side effects, including disturbances in electrolyte levels and QT interval prolongation. Normal levels of these electrolytes help minimise the risk of cardiac arrhythmias or other adverse events. Exclusion Criteria: Known hypersensitivity or allergy to colchicine or any of its excipients. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 45 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 or advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh Class B or C). Patients taking medications known to have significant interactions with colchicine, such as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., clarithromycin, ketoconazole), P-glycoprotein inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine), or medications associated with myelosuppression (e.g., azathioprine, cyclophosphamide). Patients with pre-existing medical conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, could pose a significant risk or interfere with the interpretation of the study results (e.g., severe heart failure, uncontrolled arrhythmias, uncontrolled diabetes, or active malignancies). Pregnant or lactating individuals. Patients deemed by the investigator to be in imminent danger of death or unlikely to survive the duration of study due to some other disease
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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
-
General hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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