Can a cancer drug ease long COVID? new trial tests LAU-7b
NCT ID NCT05999435
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested an oral drug called LAU-7b (fenretinide) in 272 adults with moderate to severe Long COVID symptoms lasting at least 12 weeks. Participants took the drug or a placebo in cycles of 14 days on, 14 days off, for 12 weeks. The main goal was to see if LAU-7b improves physical health and daily function compared to placebo. Results are not yet available.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- LAU-7b (fenretinide)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment that reduces physical symptoms and improves quality of life for people with Long COVID.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed early-phase trial with modest size (272 people). Results are not yet published, so it's unclear if LAU-7b is better than placebo. Long COVID is complex and may not respond to a single drug.
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 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
-
272 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Nov 2023
- Finished
-
Nov 2024
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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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: 1. Subjects must be 18 years and older, of either gender, and able to give informed consent; 2. Subjects diagnosed with Long COVID and exhibiting persisting, relapsing or new Long COVID symptom(s) at least 12 weeks beyond the start (test positivity or symptom onset) of the causative COVID-19 infection; 3. At least one of the Long COVID symptoms must be from the core list of Long COVID symptoms, and be present for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to screening and of moderate or severe intensity as per the 4-level Likert severity scale (0 to 3; 0 = no symptoms; 1 = mild symptoms; 2 = moderate symptoms; 3 = severe symptoms); 4. If female, must be either post-menopausal (one year or greater without menses), surgically sterile, or, for female subjects of child-bearing potential who are capable of conception, must be: practicing a highly effective method of birth control (acceptable methods include intrauterine device, complete abstinence, spermicide + barrier, male partner surgical sterilization, or hormonal contraception) during the study treatment intake and through 30 days after the last dose of the study medication. Periodical abstinence is not classified as an effective method of birth control. A pregnancy test for female subjects of child-bearing potential must be negative at the Screening Visit; 5. Subjects deemed capable of adequate compliance including attending scheduled follow-up calls/visits for the duration of the study, have internet access and able to read and answer questionnaires on electronic Patient Reported Outcomes platform (ePRO) or paper; 6. Screening laboratory test and vital signs results within ranges compatible with the subject's health condition, as per investigator's judgement. See also the last exclusion for certain liver function tests; 7. Subjects deemed capable of swallowing the study treatment capsules Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is currently hospitalized (any reason); 2. Pregnancy or breastfeeding; 3. Any COVID vaccination within 4 weeks of screening or planned during study participation; 4. Presence of any health condition judged by the investigator to be directly causing one or more of the most common Long COVID symptoms; 5. Health condition deemed to possibly interfere with the study endpoints and/or the safety of the subjects. For example, the following conditions should be considered contraindicated for participation in the study. In case of doubt, the Investigator should consult with the Sponsor's medical representative: * Febrile neutropenia; * Fibromyalgia deemed to interfere with generalized pain measurements; * Presence of end-stage cancer (palliative care). 6. Presence or suspicion of drug or alcohol abuse, as judged by the Investigator; 7. Known history of a severe allergy or sensitivity to retinoids, or with known allergies to excipients in the oral capsule formulation proposed to be used in the study; 8. Participation in another interventional drug, alimentary supplement, psychological or device...etc. clinical trial within 30 days (or a minimum of 5 elimination half-lives for drugs) prior to screening, except ongoing participation in non-interventional studies; 9. Presence of total bilirubin \>1.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (in the absence of demonstrated Gilbert's syndrome), alanine aminotransferase and/or aspartate aminotransferase \> 2.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (unless there are clinical evidences of hepatic steatosis).
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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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CIUSS du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean - Hôpital Chicoutimi
Chicoutimi, Quebec, G7H 5H6, Canada
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Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Sherbrooke
Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada
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Diex Recherche Québec Inc.
Québec, Quebec, G1V 4T3, Canada
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Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1R7, Canada
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Montreal General Hospital
Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1A4, Canada
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Mindfulness may offer relief for long COVID sufferers
- Can wearables decode the mystery of fatigue?
- Beetroot juice: a natural boost against long COVID fatigue?
- A One-Two punch for long COVID? supplement and therapy put to the test