Introduction: The STOP COVID Trials were innovative, fully-remote randomized controlled trials of fluvoxamine (a sigma1 receptor agonist with anti-inflammatory properties) vs placebo for treatment of outpatients with early COVID-19 who were self-isolating at home.
Methods: The trials used eConsent and an electronic data capture system with integrated recruitment from the Epic electronic health record system. The trials reduced participant burden and prevented spread of infection by allowing patients to participate from home. The trials also ensured equity in research participation by encouraging participation of individuals from racial and ethnic groups that are disproportionately affected by severe COVID-19.
Results: STOP COVID 1 screened 1337 individuals, randomized 181, and included 152 in the main analysis, including 25% of participants identifying as Black. STOP COVID 2 screened 2475, randomized 670, and included 547 in the main analysis, including 13% of participants identifying as Hispanic. Enrollment for STOP COVID 2 ended early due to low event rates and difficulty with recruitment after the COVID-19 vaccine rollout; however, the trial is still adequately powered for some important secondary and long-term follow up analyses.
Impact: It is possible to recruit a diverse sample for participation in a fully-remote clinical trial during a pandemic. Reference: Lenze EJ, Mattar C, Zorumski CF, Stevens A, Schweiger J, Nicol GE, Miller JP, Yang L, Yingling M, Avidan MS, Angela M Reiersen AM. Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2020 Dec 8;324(22):2292-2300.
Organization – Washington University in St. Louis
Keenoy K, Lenze EJ, Mattar C, Zorumski CF, Stevens A, Schweiger J, Nicol GE, Miller JP, Yang L, Yingling M, Avidan MS, Powderly WJ, Reiersen AM