Clinical Study of Tanshinone Capsules Against COVID-19

NCT07123701 | Completed Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: Southern MUC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The variation of SARS-CoV-2 has caused many countries to face the problem of multiple outbreaks. Gene mutations can change the transmicity, pathogenicity, and immunogenicity of the virus. For example, the Omicron variant circulating around the world spreads faster, increases infectivity, and infects a younger population, which in turn affects the efficacy of antiviral drugs or weakens the protective efficiency of vaccines. Therefore, in order to fully respond to the variation of SARS-CoV-2 and possible new coronaviruses in the future, the development of broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus drugs is an urgent clinical need. Tanshinone capsule is a marketed drug, which is made of the lipid-soluble components of the root of Danshen, a traditional Chinese medicine. It is used for anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory functions, and is used for acne, tonsillitis and furunils. Its clinical use relives the situation of antibiotic resistance and toxicity. Our previous basic research has shown that tanshinone capsules have anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro and in humanized ACE2 transgenic mice. The use of tanshinone capsules in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection can further broaden the antiviral pharmacological activity of tanshinone capsules and may increase its clinical function as an antiviral drug for the treatment of viral infection. On the one hand, tanshinone capsules are oral traditional Chinese medicine capsules, which have the advantages of low production/transportation cost, high safety and high patient compliance. On the other hand, tanshinone capsules are expected to reduce the level of inflammation in patients and improve the symptoms of COVID-19 while preventing and treating COVID-19 infection. It can meet the major needs of novel coronavirus pneumonia drug research and development to a high degree.

Conditions

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Negative conversion time of nucleic acid in throat swab

  The task turned negative when the CT value of ORF1ab gene and N gene was greater than 30

  After the screening period, the first day of dosing was day 1

Study Arms (1)

placebo-controlled clinical trial of tanshinone capsules in the treatment of patients with COVID-19

EXPERIMENTAL

The experimental group was given tanshinone capsule, and the placebo control was given tanshinone capsule placebo, orally administered 3 times a day, 4 capsules/time, 0.25g/ capsule, for 5 days.

Drug: Tanshinone capsules

Interventions

Tanshinone capsules DRUG

Tanshinone capsules were used in this intervention for COVID-19 patients

placebo-controlled clinical trial of tanshinone capsules in the treatment of patients with COVID-19

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 60 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Meet the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection issued by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (Trial Version 10). Based on the etiology or serological test, within 2 days of diagnosis, and meet the following conditions: 1) The Ct values of N gene and ORF gene of 2019-ncov infection were both less than 30 (fluorescence quantitative PCR method, the cut-off value was 40); 2) Mild and/or moderate clinical classification: subjects had at least one or more of the following clinical symptoms of COVID-19 with a symptom score ≥1 at the time of screening, including but not limited to: fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath or dyspnea, chills or chills.
• Age of 18-65 years old, both sexes;
• Participants were required to meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) ≤3 days from the first administration of the investigational drug to the positive SARS-CoV-2 virus infection test specimen during the screening period, 2) ≤3 days from the first onset of COVID-19 symptoms to the first administration of the investigational drug;
• Patients voluntarily participated in this study, and they or their legal representatives signed written informed consent and were willing to cooperate with follow-up.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients at high risk of severe or critical illness and diagnosed as severe or critical illness before entering the study according to the "Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for novel coronavirus Infection (Trial version 10)";
• Received antiviral treatment before study entry, such as Chinese patent medicine or Chinese medicine formula treatment, Paxlovid, ritonavir tablets, SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody treatment, convalescent plasma of convalescent patients, other clinical trial drugs indicated for COVID-19, etc. (except previous treatment for COVID-19 infection);
• Subjects with known allergy to therapeutic drug tanshinone capsules or allergic constitution (including susceptible to allergic reactions to other drugs);
• Suffering from diseases that seriously affect the immune system, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, or blood system, or splenectomy, organ transplantation, etc.
• Pregnant and lactating women;
• Suspected bacterial, fungal, viral or other infections other than SARS-CoV-2 during the screening period;
• Patients with bronchopneumonia, chronic lung abscess, chronic cough for more than 8 weeks, chronic pharyngitis with cough and other diseases before entering the study;
• One of the following conditions during the screening period: 1) ALT or AST\>1.5 times ULN; 2) eGFR\<60mL/min; 3) hemoglobin \<8.0g/L, platelet \<5000/μL;
• Patients who participated in other clinical trials within the past 3 months;
• Persons not eligible for enrollment at the investigator's discretion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Liu Shuwen: lead

Study Sites (1)

Dongguan People's Hospital

Dongguan, Guangdong, 523000, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19

Interventions

tanshinone

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• guodong G HU, DOCTOR

  Dongguan People's Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 11, 2025
• First Posted: August 14, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2025
• Study Completion: July 1, 2025
• Last Updated: August 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: ICF
• Time Frame: 2025.8.1-2028.1.1
• Access Criteria: ifc

Locations

CN (1)