Clinical trial • Phase III • Infectious Disease

UPADACITINIB for Long COVID

Phase III trial of UPADACITINIB for Long COVID.

Overview

Trial Therapeutic Area
Infectious Disease
Trial Disease
Long COVID
Trial Stage
Phase III
Drug Modality
Small molecule

Key dates

Initial CTIS Submission Date
20-10-2025
First CTIS Authorization Date
25-02-2026

Trial design

Randomised, placebo arms: placebo for upadacitinib — one capsule (0 mg) once daily (matching rinvoq appearance); placebo for pirfenidone — days 1-7: one capsule three times daily (0 mg); days 8-14: two capsules three times daily (0 mg); days 15+: three capsules three times daily (0 mg).-controlled, adaptive Phase III trial across 1 site in Italy.

Randomised
Yes
Comparator
Placebo arms: Placebo for Upadacitinib — one capsule (0 mg) once daily (matching RINVOQ appearance); Placebo for Pirfenidone — Days 1-7: one capsule three times daily (0 mg); Days 8-14: two capsules three times daily (0 mg); Days 15+: three capsules three times daily (0 mg).
Adaptive
True, platform design with interim and final analyses comparing change from baseline across subscales (interim analyses planned); multiple investigational drugs tested within platform.
Single Multiple Or Escalation Dose Combined
Yes
Target Sample Size
273
Trial Duration For Participant
190

Eligibility

Recruits 273 Vulnerable populations not selected. The trial excludes participants who are unable to provide their informed consent ("Participants who are unable to provide their informed consent"). Informed consent must be provided by the participant. Subject information and informed consent forms are available in English and Italian..

Pregnancy Exclusion
Participants who are pregnant, lactating, or plan to become pregnant during the time of the study
Vulnerable Population
Vulnerable populations not selected. The trial excludes participants who are unable to provide their informed consent ("Participants who are unable to provide their informed consent"). Informed consent must be provided by the participant. Subject information and informed consent forms are available in English and Italian.

Inclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Adults ≥ 18 years of age and ≤ 65 years of age\n- Previous Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) within the past four years, as determined by the site investigator using the following certainty scale (based on available clinical history and/or serologic data): 3 – Confirmed Infection (PCR or n-Capsid Test): Prior positive nasopharyngeal or salivary PCR test for Covid-19 (documented proof and/or verbal confirmation by participant) or has positive nucleocapsid antibodies results. 2 – Probable Infection (Antigen Test): Participant verbally confirms a prior positive rapid antigen test without PCR confirmation. 1 – Possible Infection (Viral Syndrome and Epidemiological Link): Participant verbally confirms experiencing symptoms consistent with Covid-19 infection and has an epidemiological link (i.e., exposure to a confirmed case) without any positive testing.\n- Persistent or new symptoms diagnosed as \"Long Covid\" as defined by the World Health Organization; \"the continuation or development of new symptoms 3 months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection (Covid-19), with these symptoms lasting for at least 2 months with no other explanation\". This diagnosis may come from a healthcare professional experienced in Long Covid diagnosis, or the site investigator. These symptoms must be present for more days than not and must not have been present prior to the onset of SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) infection.\n- At the time of screening, participants should be experiencing at least one of the following self-reported symptoms or symptom clusters. Participant has self-reported issues with: Fatigue Breathing Circulation Memory, thinking, and/or communication Muscles and/or joints These five symptoms or symptom clusters were selected based on unpublished data from the National Institutes for Health and Care Research (NIHR, United Kingdom) and their alignment with five validated SBQ scales. The selection was driven by their prevalence and their significant impact on quality of life as reported in symptom assessments.\n- Participant has the ability and is willing to follow study procedures throughout the study\n- Participant can provide informed consent"}

Exclusion criteria

  • {"criterion_text":"- Participants who do not meet the criteria outlined above\n- Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) below 500 cells/mm³\n- Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels equal to or greater than three times the upper limit of normal (ULN)\n- Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels equal to or greater than three times the ULN\n- Platelet count below 100,000 cells/mm³, confirmed with repeat testing\n- Platelet count above 500,000 cells/mm³, confirmed with repeat testing\n- Total fasting cholesterol levels of 280 mg/dL or higher, confirmed with repeat testing\n- Fasting low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels of 180 mg/dL or higher, confirmed with repeat testing\n- A personal or family history of long QT syndrome or an electrocardiogram (ECG) during screening showing a corrected QT interval (QTc) of 500 milliseconds or greater, calculated using Fridericia's formula\n- Participants with HIV diagnosis\n- Participants with active hepatitis B or C diagnosis. Note: treated or cleared hepatitis C is not exclusionary.\n- Participants who are unable to provide their informed consent\n- Active herpes zoster infection (visible skin lesions) within 3 months prior to screening, or any history of disseminated or complicated herpes zoster or herpes simplex infection (e.g., VZV encephalitis)\n- Participants with active or latent tuberculosis\n- Immunocompromised status, as determined by the investigator, that places the participant at an unacceptable risk for study participation\n- Active malignancy or lymphoproliferative disorder that has not been in remission for at least five years. Localized non-melanoma skin cancers that have been definitively treated are not exclusionary.\n- Positive SARS-CoV-2 test in the last 30 days or symptomatic with Covid-19 like illness\n- Previous admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for the treatment of acute COVID-19 infection\n- Any history of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, unstable angina, atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation, or myocardial infarction or stroke\n- History of sepsis or a significant viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection within 30 days prior to enrollment, as determined by the investigator.\n- Use of one or more of the study drugs within 30 days prior to enrollment for the original indication or other purposes\n- Known allergic reactions to the components of the study drugs\n- Participants who are pregnant, lactating, or plan to become pregnant during the time of the study\n- Any prior exposure to JAK inhibitors\n- Taking any of the listed medications on the prohibited medications list in Appendix A\n- Intake or planned consumption of any of the following: Taurine, Curcumin, CoQ10, Creatine, Resveratrol, Fisetin, Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), Quercetin, Glycine, Spermidine, Arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, Ergothioneine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Carnitine, Benfotiamine, Carnosine, Crocin, N-acetylcysteine\n- Covid vaccinations are prohibited within 30 days prior to enrollment\n- Live vaccine within the 30 days before enrollment or plan to receive live vaccines during the study period\n- Other vaccines, including influenza vaccine, are prohibited within 14 days of enrollment\n- Major surgery within 30 days prior to enrollment or plans for major surgery during the study\n- Any other co-existing medical condition or concomitant medication/therapy that might in the judgment of the study investigators, potentially impact the participant's safety or ability to adhere to the study protocol or interfere with the meaning of the clinical and research measurements as judged by the study investigators\n- Participation in any clinical study within the last 30 days prior to enrollment\n- Participants who participated in Phase One of this study (LC-Revitalize) are not eligible to participate in Phase Two\n- Persons of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to abstain from sex or to use at least one acceptable method of contraception from the time of screening through at least 30 days after the end of the study intervention period. Acceptable methods include barrier contraceptives (e.g., condoms or diaphragm) with spermicide, intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal contraceptives, oral contraceptive pills, and surgical sterilization. Participants unwilling to be counseled about the risks related to pregnancy or breastfeeding will also be excluded.\n- Currently hospitalized and/or incarcerated\n- Male participants must take precautions to avoid impregnating a female while participating in this study. If a male participant's partner can become pregnant, she must use an effective and reliable form of birth control, as listed above, during the study and for 30 days after the male participant's last dose of the investigational product. Additionally, male participants must agree to use a latex condom during sexual activity with partners who could become pregnant.\n- eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73m2\n- Moderate to severe liver dysfunction, defined as Bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN or AST or ALT > 2 x ULN\n- Hemoglobin (Hbg) < 8.0 g/dL\n- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) below 1,000 cells/mm³, confirmed with repeat testing"}

Endpoints

Primary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of two repurposed drugs in reducing symptom severity in participants with Long Covid. The change in symptom score (transformed scale of 0-100) from baseline to both the interim and final analyses will be compared across one of the five validate subscales, relative to the placebo. This study will utilize five validated subscales: 1) Fatigue, 2) Breathing, 3) Memory, Thinking, and Communication, 4) Muscles and Joints, and 5) Circulation.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in symptom score on a transformed 0-100 scale from baseline to interim and final analyses, compared across one of five validated SBQ subscales (Fatigue; Breathing; Memory/Thinking/Communication; Muscles and Joints; Circulation)."}

Secondary endpoints

  • {"endpoint_text":"- To compare symptom burden of participants with Long Covid treated with study drug versus placebo by measuring the change in total scores of the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS)-29 questionnaire.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in total PROMIS-29 scores from baseline to interim and final analyses."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- To compare symptom burden of participants with Long Covid treated with study drug versus placebo by measuring the change in total scores of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 questionnaire from baseline to the interim and final analyses.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in total GAD-7 scores from baseline to interim and final analyses."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- To compare symptom burden of participants with Long Covid treated with study drug versus placebo by measuring the change in total scores of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 from baseline to the interim and final analyses. The PHQ-9 questionnaire consists of 9 items related to the symptoms of depression. Each item is scored on a scale of 0-3 with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Change in total PHQ-9 scores from baseline to interim and final analyses (PHQ-9 items scored 0-3)."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- To assess whether symptom burden worsens in participants with Long Covid treated with study drugs versus placebo, specifically when symptoms are reported across multiple scales indicated by the total number of participants with increased SBQ subscale scores. The following SBQ subscales will be used during this study: 1) Fatigue, 2) Breathing, 3) Memory, thinking, and communication, 4) Muscles and joints, 5) Circulation.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Number of participants with increased SBQ subscale scores across specified subscales."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- To measure specific pathophysiological biomarker of study drugs versus placebo indicated by the normalization of blood biomarkers after treatment in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Normalization of specified blood biomarkers measured in pg/mL after treatment compared to placebo."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- To assess changes in exercise capacity over time of participants with Long Covid treated with study drugs versus placebo. The score is determined by the distance a participant walks in six minutes around the perimeter of a designated circuit.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Six-minute walk distance measured as meters walked in six minutes around a designated circuit; change over time compared between treatment and placebo."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- The frequency and severity of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities will be monitored to assess safety and tolerability. A lower incidence and severity will indicate that the drugs are safer and more tolerable.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Incidence and severity grading of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities monitored throughout the study."}
  • {"endpoint_text":"- Plasma proteomics will be analyzed to assess protein differential expression and signaling pathway mechanisms related to the study drugs. Analyses will focus on the expression normalization of proteins/pathways associated with Long Covid. Plasma metabolomics will be analyzed to evaluate metabolic changes and the overall effects of the study drugs. Analyses will focus on the concentration normalization of metabolites linked to the pathophysiology of Long Covid.","definition_or_measurement_approach":"Plasma proteomics and metabolomics analyses assessing differential expression and normalization of proteins and metabolites associated with Long Covid."}

Recruitment

Planned Sample Size
273
Recruitment Window Months
13
Consent Approach
Informed consent must be provided by the participant (adult). Participants unable to provide informed consent are excluded. Subject information and informed consent forms are available in English and Italian (L1_ICF Main EN and IT); additional partner and genetic analysis ICFs available in English and Italian.

Geography

Total Number Of Sites
1
Total Number Of Participants
273

Italy

Earliest CTIS Part Ii Submission Date
19-02-2026
Latest Decision Or Authorization Date
25-02-2026
Processing Time Days
6
Number Of Sites
1
Number Of Participants
75

Sites

Site Name
National Institute For Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani
Department Name
UOC Immunodeficienze Virali
Principal Investigator Name
Andrea Antinori
Principal Investigator Email
andrea.antinori@inmi.it
Contact Person Name
Andrea Antinori
Contact Person Email
andrea.antinori@inmi.it
Number Of Participants
75

Sponsor

Primary sponsor

Full Name
Dr. Douglas D. Fraser
Organisation Type
Pharmaceutical company
Country Of Registered Address
Canada

Third parties

  • {"country":"Canada","full_name":"Oximio Barl Canada Ltd.","duties_or_roles":"sponsorDuties code 14","organisation_type":"Pharmaceutical company"}

Investigational products

Investigational Product Name
RINVOQ 15 mg prolonged-release tablets
Active Substance
UPADACITINIB
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
ORAL
Route
oral
Authorisation Status
Marketing authorisation EU/1/19/1404/002 (authorized)
Starting Dose
15 mg once daily
Dose Levels
15 mg once daily
Frequency
once daily
Maximum Dose
15 mg
Investigational Product Name
Pirfenidon Accord 267 mg Filmtabletten
Active Substance
PIRFENIDONE
Modality
Small molecule
Routes Of Administration
ORAL
Route
oral
Authorisation Status
Marketing authorisation (product listed, authorized status)
Starting Dose
267 mg three times daily (801 mg total) — Days 1-7
Dose Levels
Days 1-7: 267 mg TID (801 mg total); Days 8-14: 534 mg TID (1602 mg total); Days 15+: 801 mg TID (2403 mg total)
Frequency
three times daily
Maximum Dose
2403 mg per day
Dose Escalation Increase
Initial: 267 mg TID -> then 534 mg TID -> then 801 mg TID
Investigational Product Name
Placebo for Upadacitinib
Modality
Other
Starting Dose
0 mg once daily (matching capsule)
Dose Levels
0 mg once daily
Frequency
once daily
Maximum Dose
0 mg
Investigational Product Name
Placebo for Pirfenidone
Modality
Other
Starting Dose
Days 1-7: one capsule three times daily (0 mg)
Dose Levels
Days 1-7: 0 mg TID; Days 8-14: 0 mg TID; Days 15+: 0 mg TID
Frequency
three times daily
Maximum Dose
0 mg
Dose Escalation Increase
Initial: 0 mg TID -> then 0 mg TID -> then 0 mg TID

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