It was the first U.S. study to test the three treatments and one of the first COVID-19 clinical trials to include pregnant people, according to the University of Minnesota.
Metformin is a medication for Type 2 diabetes that’s in early trials to test its antiviral abilities. Fluvoxamine is an antidepressant, and ivermectin is an antiparasitic.
The study, which was published Aug. 18 in JAMA, tested a placebo against each drug on its own, metformin with ivermectin and metformin with fluvoxamine. To enroll, the 1,323 study participants had to test positive for COVID-19 within three days and qualify as medically overweight. About half of the participants were vaccinated against COVID-19.
Although metformin had slightly higher results at reducing hospitalizations, ER visits or deaths, this phase 3 study didn’t find statistically significant results in any of the treatments.
“A possible benefit for the prevention of the more severe components of the primary end point [emergency department visit, hospitalization, or death] was shown for metformin. However, this finding was a prespecified secondary end point and thus cannot be considered to be definitive, pending the results of other trials,” the researchers wrote.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.