Inhaled Ciclesonide for Outpatients With COVID19

Ciclesonide Clinical Trial for COVID-19 Treatment

The CONTAIN (CiclesOnide cliNical TriAl covId-19 treatmeNt) is a randomized control study of ciclesonide vs placebo for mild covid-19 disease. The need for potential therapy for COVID-19 patients is urgent. Ciclesonide has shown encouraging in vitro results, is easy to be used and is readily available. It has a low rate of side effects and few interactions with other drugs. It is unusual to use an inhaled steroid drug for COVID-19 but there has been new data suggesting steroids may have an antiviral effect in addition to an anti-inflammatory effect. Investigators propose to use inhaled and nasal ciclesonide to stop viral replication in the nose and airways. Investigators hope this will accelerate recovery from COVID-19 illness in individuals who are not admitted to hospital at time of diagnosis of COVID-19.

Inclusion Criteria:

Symptomatic adult patients positive by PCR for COVID-19 within 5 days of enrollment with fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Provision of Informed Consent

At day 0, patients should be at home

Exclusion Criteria:

• Already on inhaled corticosteroid medication
• Currently using systemic steroids (oral or intravenous or intramuscular such as Prednisone) or use of steroids 7 days prior to enrolment
• Severely ill patients at enrollment (i.e., admitted to ICU at admission)
• Unable to self-administer the inhaler
• Known or suspected pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Known allergy to study medication or its components (non-medicinal ingredients; including lactose allergy (type I))
• Patients with untreated fungal, bacterial, or tubercular infections of the respiratory tract
• Current hospitalization
• Current use of oxygen at home or in the hospital