Two recent studies have suggested that in patients with Covid19, treatment with hydroxychloroquine may shorten the duration of symptoms and improve viral clearance, an effect that appears most pronounced when combined with azithromycin. Hydroxychloroquine treatment may inhibit viral nucleic acid-mediated activation of various innate immune pathways, as well as blockade of lysosomal functions in cell types relevant for viral entry and antigen presentation.

The purpose of the study was to determine if oral hydroxychloroquine monotherapy, or in combination with azithromycin results in clinical benefit in patients hospitalized with COVID19 pneumonia.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Informed consent must be obtained prior to participation in the study
2. Adult patient ≥ 18 years old
3. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from respiratory tract specimen (e.g nasopharyngeal swab)
4. Onset of signs and symptoms of COVID19 illness ≤ 7 days prior to randomization (including but not limited to fever, cough, myalgias, fatigue, abnormal chest imaging)
5. Currently hospitalized or requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 disease

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Use of other investigational drugs or newly approved COVID-19 treatments within 5-half lives or 30 days of enrolment
2. History of hypersensitivity to any of the study treatments or its excipients or to drugs of similar chemical classes
3. Participation in any other clinical trial of an experimental treatment for COVID-19
4. Expectation of concurrent treatment with any other agents or potential direct acting antiviral activity against SARS-Co V-2 during study drug dosing
5. Requires, in the judgement of the investigator, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) or mechanical ventilatory support (invasive or non-invasive) prior to first dose of study drug (There might be a patient who cannot be admitted to the ICU, even if the patient's condition is severe enough, due to administrative reasons under the current circumstances. This case is also considered under admission to the ICU judged by the investigator)
6. Evidence of cytokine storm syndrome or multi-organ system failure
7. Confirmed co-infection with influenza
8. Creatinine clearance < 45 mL/min or requiring acute renal replacement therapy
9. History or current diagnosis of ECG abnormalities indicating significant risk of safety for participants participating in the study
10. Any other condition which in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the participant at risk, impede compliance or hinder completion of the study
11. Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
12. Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they agree to use basic methods of contraception during dosing of study treatment.

Novartis is committed to sharing access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies with qualified external researchers. Requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to protect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com

The terms and conditions of Novartis' agreements with its investigators may vary. However, Novartis does not prohibit any investigator from publishing. Any publications from a single-site are postponed until the publication of the pooled data (i.e., data from all sites) in the clinical trial or disclosure of trial results in their entirety.