Prospective, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of IMU-838, in Combination with Oseltamivir, in Adults with Coronavirus Disease 19 The IONIC Trial

Background: Globally there is a scarcity of effective treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infections (causing COVID 19). Repurposing existing medications may offer the best hope for treating COVID 19 patients to curb the pandemic. IMU-838 is a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor, which is an effective mechanism for antiviral effects against respiratory viruses. When used synergistically with Oseltamivir, therapeutic effects have been observed against influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in rodents.(13) The IONIC trial is a randomized control trial that will investigate whether time to clinical improvement in COVID 19 patients is improved following a 14 day course of IMU-838 + Oseltamivir versus Oseltamivir alone. Methods: IONIC trial is an open label study in which participants will be randomised 1:1 in two parallel arms; the intervention arm (IMU-838 + Oseltamivir) and control arm (Oseltamivir only). The primary outcome is time-to-clinical improvement; defined as the time from randomisation to: a 2-point improvement on WHO ordinal scale; discharge from hospital, or death (whichever occurs first). The study is sponsored by UHCW NHS Trust and funded by LifeArc. Discussion: The IONIC Protocol describes an overarching trial design to provide reliable evidence on the efficacy of IMU-838 (vidofludimus calcium) when delivered in combination with an antiviral therapy (Oseltamivir) [IONIC Intervention] for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection in adult patients receiving usual standard of care. Trial Registration: The trial was registered with EudraCT (2020-001805-21) on 09.04.2020 and ISRCTN on 23.09.2020 (ISRCTN53038326) and Clinicaltrials.gov on 17.08.2020 (NCT04516915) Strengths and Limitations: This study is the first to recruit participants in the trial exploring the effectiveness of IMU-838 in COVID-19. In addition, we believe it is the only trial exploring the effectiveness of IMU-838 in combination with Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. However, to make the trial design flexible due to the on-going pandemic the trial is un-blinded.