An Oral Treatment to Prevent COVID-19 After Exposure
Mitoquinone/mitoquinol mesylate as oral and safe Postexposure Prophylaxis for Covid-19
['FUNDING_R21'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-10888395
This project is exploring if a daily supplement called MitoQ can help prevent COVID-19 infection after someone has been exposed to the virus.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-10888395 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Current oral treatments for COVID-19 have limitations, such as not reducing inflammation and sometimes leading to a return of symptoms. We need new treatments that can also help control the body's inflammatory response to the virus. This work focuses on MitoQ, a mitochondrial antioxidant that has shown promise in lab studies and an early human trial by reducing harmful molecules and boosting natural defenses. The goal is to further understand how MitoQ can prevent COVID-19 infection and its associated inflammation after exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be adults who have recently been exposed to someone with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Not a fit: Patients who are already experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms or are not recently exposed may not directly benefit from this specific preventive approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a new, safe, and readily available oral option to prevent COVID-19 infection and reduce severe symptoms after exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Early human studies and lab tests have shown promising results for MitoQ in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and reducing inflammation.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KELESIDIS, THEODOROS — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: KELESIDIS, THEODOROS
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.