NCT06631287

Brief Summary

The overarching goal of this study is to determine if baricitinib, as compared to placebo, will improve neurocognitive function, along with measures of physical function, quality of life, post-exertional malaise, effect of breathlessness on daily activities, post-COVID-19 symptom burden, and biomarkers of inflammation and viral measures, in participants with Long COVID.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
550

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
14mo left

Started Oct 2024

Typical duration for phase_3

Geographic Reach
1 country

16 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress57%
Oct 2024Jul 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 4, 2024

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 8, 2024

Completed
13 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 21, 2024

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 1, 2026

Expected
8 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 22, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

October 4, 2024

Last Update Submit

April 20, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

COVID-19Long COVID Drug TreatmentLong COVID

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • CNS-Vital Signs Global Cognitive Index

    Objective neuropsychological function determined using the CNS-Vital Signs Global Cognitive Index between study arms at 6-months, adjusted for baseline. CNS-Vital Signs Global Cognitive Index subscale is an average score derived from the domain scores or a general assessment of the overall neurocognitive status of the participant. The scores range from less than 70 (very low) to above 110 (above average). A higher score means higher neurocognitive function and higher capacity.

    Month 6

Secondary Outcomes (14)

  • Objective neuropsychological function domains of executive function, memory, processing speed, and motor speed including the CNS-Vital Signs subscale tests at 6-months.

    Month 6

  • Objective neuropsychological function domains of executive function, memory, processing speed, and motor speed including the CNS-Vital Signs subscale tests at 12-months.

    Month 12

  • Modified Everyday Cognition (mECog)

    Months 3, 6 and 12

  • Exercise capacity including the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) at 6- and 12-months

    Months 6 and 12

  • Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

    Months 6 and 12

  • +9 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Baricitinib

EXPERIMENTAL

Janus kinase inhibitor

Drug: Baricitinib

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Placebo

Other: Placebo

Interventions

4mg encapsulated, pre-formed tablet PO once daily for 24 weeks.

Also known as: OLUMIANT
Baricitinib
PlaceboOTHER

Matched placebo capsule, PO once daily for 24 weeks.

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • In order to be eligible to participate in this investigation, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
  • Cohort #1 (n=500):
  • Evidence of personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the participant has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study and was willing and able to consent to participation.
  • Age ≥18 years old.
  • Documented SARS-CoV-2 infection 6 or more months prior to screening, confirmed with acceptable documentation that includes (at minimum) their name, the date the test was taken (must be after January 2020), and details specifying that the positive test was for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Clinical evidence of Long COVID, as confirmed by the investigator's assessment:
  • a. At least one symptom (listed below) that is new or worsened since the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection, not known to be attributable to another cause upon assessment by the study clinicians (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, or equivalent).
  • i. Systemic symptoms (e.g., fatigue, chills, post-exertional malaise), neurocognitive symptoms (e.g., trouble with memory/concentration ("brain fog"), headache, dysautonomia/postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, dizziness, unsteadiness, neuropathy, sleep disturbance), cardiopulmonary symptoms (e.g., chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, cough, fainting spells), musculoskeletal symptoms (e.g., muscle aches, joint pain), gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, diarrhea). Although other symptoms (e.g., skin rash, hair loss, mental health symptoms, trouble with smell/taste, genitourinary symptoms) will be recorded and tracked, at least one core symptoms listed above must be present.
  • b. Symptoms must be present for at least 6 months prior to screening. Symptoms that wax and wane must have been initially present at least 6 months prior to screening.
  • c. Symptoms must be reported to have an impact on quality of life and/or everyday functioning and to be at least somewhat bothersome.
  • d. Cognitive impairment present defined by having at least 20% positive items (answered subjectively worse or much worse) on the 41-item modified ECog questionnaire.
  • Cohort #2 (n=50):
  • Evidence of personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the participant has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study and was willing and able to consent to participation.
  • Age ≥18 years old.
  • Clinical diagnosis of COVID infection between January 2020 and September 1, 2021 (i.e., before home tests were widely available).
  • +10 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this investigation:
  • Qualifying Long COVID symptoms cannot be explained by an infection-associated chronic condition diagnosed prior to the onset of Long COVID (e.g., ME/CFS or other infection-associated chronic condition).
  • Pre-existing cognitive impairment not exacerbated by COVID-19, including but not limited to syphilis, as determined by study clinicians (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, or equivalent), which may include a review of participant's history and medical records.
  • Severe cognitive, physical, or psychological disability preventing participation in the study, as determined by the investigator.
  • Moderate or High risk of suicidality, as determined by the modified Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (mC-SSRS).
  • History of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) within the 3 months prior to enrollment.
  • Known prior allergic reactions to components of the baricitinib.
  • Previously randomized in this study or in the last 30 days have been in another study investigating baricitinib.
  • Positive SARS-CoV-2 NAAT or rapid Antigen test in the 14 days prior to screening.
  • Venous thromboembolism in the past 6 months prior to screening or felt to be at increased risk of thrombosis by the investigator.
  • Previous admission to an ICU for treatment of acute COVID-19 infection.
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate of \< 30 mL/min/1.73m2, as calculated using the CKD-EPI 2021 equation.
  • Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) \<1000 cells/mm3, confirmed on repeat testing.
  • Absolute Leukocyte Count (ALC) \<100 cells/mm3.
  • Evidence of severe liver disease at the time of screening, defined as Bilirubin \> 1.5 X ULN or AST or ALT \> 2x ULN.
  • +21 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (16)

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, 85724, United States

RECRUITING

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Los Angeles, California, 90024, United States

RECRUITING

University of California San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

RECRUITING

University of Colorado I Anschutz Medical Campus

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

RECRUITING

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States

RECRUITING

University of Florida College of Medicine

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

NOT YET RECRUITING

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

RECRUITING

Illinois Research Network (ILLInet), University of Illinois Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60608, United States

RECRUITING

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

RECRUITING

University of Minnesota

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States

RECRUITING

University Hospitals Cleveland Case Western

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

RECRUITING

The MetroHealth System

Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States

RECRUITING

Vanderbilt University Medical

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States

RECRUITING

University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States

NOT YET RECRUITING

Swedish Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98104, United States

RECRUITING

West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute

Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-7015, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeCOVID-19Coronavirus Infections

Interventions

baricitinib

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, ViralPneumoniaRespiratory Tract InfectionsInfectionsVirus DiseasesCoronaviridae InfectionsNidovirales InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsLung DiseasesRespiratory Tract DiseasesPost-Infectious DisordersChronic DiseaseDisease AttributesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Wes Ely, M.D.

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Amanda Bistran-Hall

CONTACT

Wes Ely, M.D.

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Investigators will use adequate allocation concealment using a computer-generated, permuted-block randomization with varying block size. Randomization (1:1) will be stratified by site, SARS CoV-2 confirmatory test (cohort 1), and opting into the LP sub-study. The block size and treatment allocation will only be known to a biostatistician creating the randomization list and the study pharmacist and will not be shared with trial investigators or any other study personnel.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor, Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 4, 2024

First Posted

October 8, 2024

Study Start

October 21, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Last Updated

April 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations