Evaluating Yinqiaosan-Maxingganshitang for treating COVID-19 symptoms

Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Yinqiaosan-Maxingganshitang in the Treatment of the Major Symptoms of Mild and Moderate COVID-19 by Telemedicine - a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

This study is testing if a herbal treatment called Yinqiaosan-Maxingganshitang can help people with mild to moderate COVID-19 feel better compared to a placebo.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 96 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 65 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Hong Kong)
• Trial ID: NCT05787327 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study aimed at assessing the effectiveness and safety of Yinqiaosan-Maxingganshitang in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Participants diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive either the herbal treatment or a placebo for up to 14 days, with follow-up assessments on days 7, 14, and 35. The study utilizes telemedicine for monitoring and evaluation, focusing on major symptoms such as fever and cough.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 to 65 who have tested positive for COVID-19 and exhibit mild to moderate symptoms.

Not a fit: Patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms or those outside the specified age range may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide an effective herbal remedy for alleviating symptoms of COVID-19 in mild to moderate cases.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is novel in the context of COVID-19, other studies have explored herbal treatments for respiratory conditions, but results have varied.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age from 18 to 65 years;
* Tested positive for COVID-19 by RATs, Deep Throat Saliva (DTS) or Throat/Nasal swab RT-PCR tests;
* Patient diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19 based on the "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines" published by National Institutes of Health;
* Duration of symptoms ≤ 72 hours (Start from the presence of the major symptoms of COVID-19: Fever: oral temperature \>37.2°C, or cough score ≥2, or fatigue score ≥2);
* Diagnosed with pattern of wind and heat invading the surface and/or pattern of intense exuberance of lung heat by a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP) (Diagnostic criteria are the corresponding criteria in the "Diagnosis standards for common syndromes in traditional Chinese medicine)" published by "Diagnostic Subcommittee of China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine in 2008, with ≥20 as the threshold for determination);
* Explicit declaration of willingness to participate in the study at the time of videoconference screening after reading the electronic informed consent form (written consent form have to signed after inclusion).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed of Asymptomatic or Presymptomatic Infection, Severe Illness or Critical Illness of COVID-19 based on the "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment Guidelines" published by National Institutes of Health
* Known allergy to the Chinese medicines or other ingredients of the investigational medicinal products (IMP) used in this study;
* Known pregnancy or lactation;
* Known immunocompromised patient (such as malignancy, organ or bone marrow transplant, AIDS or low immune function caused by long-term use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants)
* Known obesity (Body Mass Index \[BMI\] ≥30)
* Heavy smoker (≥400 cigarettes/year)
* Known history of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (including hypertension), chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, moderate and severe asthma or interstitial lung disease), diabetes, chronic liver disease (ALT/AST ≥ 2× the upper limit of normal \[ULN\], Bilirubin-Total ≥ 1.5ULN), chronic kidney disease (Creatinine ≥1.5ULN), cancer or other chronic diseases.
* Known history of dysphagia or any gastrointestinal disorder that affects drug absorption (such as gastroesophageal reflux disease \[GERD\], chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal tuberculosis, gastrinoma, short bowel syndrome, gastrectomy);
* Suspected or known history of alcohol or substance abuse or mental illness;
* Subjects having participated in other clinical studies in the past three months;
* Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigators could compromise the study.

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Zhixiu Lin — Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine
• Study coordinator: Cho Wing Lo

Conditions COVID-19