Outcomes Related to COVID-19 Treated With Hydroxychloroquine Among In-patients With Symptomatic Disease (ORCHID)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04332991 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 3, 2020
Results First Posted : March 17, 2021
Last Update Posted : March 17, 2021
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Infection SARS-CoV Infection | Drug: Hydroxychloroquine Drug: Placebo | Phase 3 |
Effective therapies for COVID-19 are urgently needed. Hydroxychloroquine is an antimicrobial agent with immunomodulatory and antiviral properties that has demonstrated in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Preliminary reports suggest potential efficacy in small human studies. Clinical trial data are needed to determine whether hydroxychloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19.
Study Aim: To compare the effect of hydroxychloroquine versus placebo on clinical outcomes, measured using the COVID Ordinal Outcomes Scale at Day 15, among adults with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization.
Study Hypothesis: Among adults hospitalized with COVID-19, administration of hydroxychloroquine will improve clinical outcomes at Day 15.
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Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 479 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Eligible participants will be randomized 1:1 to hydroxychloroquine versus placebo. Randomization will be stratified by site and be in permuted blocks of variable size. |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Patients, treating clinicians, trial personnel, and outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment. |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Outcomes Related to COVID-19 Treated With Hydroxychloroquine Among In-patients With Symptomatic Disease |
Actual Study Start Date : | April 2, 2020 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 19, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | July 23, 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Hydroxychlorquine
Participants assigned to the hydroxychloroquine arm will receive hydroxychloroquine sulfate 400 mg twice daily on the day of enrollment, then 200 mg twice daily for the next 4 days for a 5 day total course.
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Drug: Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is available in 200 mg oral tablets of hydroxychloroquine sulfate. For this COVID-19 trial, we will use an oral or enteral dose of hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice daily on the day of enrollment, then 200 mg twice daily for the next 4 days for a 5 day total course. |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants randomized to the control group will receive a dose of placebo enterally twice daily for 5 days (a total of 10 doses). The placebo pills will be as similar as possible to the hydroxychloroquine pills to ensure blinding.
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Drug: Placebo
Participants randomized to the control group will receive a dose of placebo enterally twice daily for 5 days (a total of 10 doses). The placebo pills will be as similar as possible to the hydroxychloroquine pills to ensure blinding. |
- COVID Outcomes Scale Score on Study Day 15 (14 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: Assessed on study day 15 ]
We will determine the COVID Ordinal Scale for all patients on study day 15
COVID Ordinal Scale defined as:
- Death
- Hospitalized on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- Hospitalized on non-invasive ventilation or high flow nasal cannula
- Hospitalized on supplemental oxygen
- Hospitalized not on supplemental oxygen
- Not hospitalized with limitation in activity (continued symptoms)
- Not hospitalized without limitation in activity (no symptoms)
- COVID Ordinal Outcomes Scale on Study Day 3 (2 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: assessed on study day 3 ]
We will determine the COVID Ordinal Scale for all patients on study day 3
COVID Ordinal Scale defined as:
- Death
- Hospitalized on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- Hospitalized on non-invasive ventilation or high flow nasal cannula
- Hospitalized on supplemental oxygen
- Hospitalized not on supplemental oxygen
- Not hospitalized with limitation in activity (continued symptoms)
- Not hospitalized without limitation in activity (no symptoms)
- COVID Ordinal Outcomes Scale on Study Day 8 (7 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: assessed on study day 8 ]
We will determine the COVID Ordinal Scale on study day 8
COVID Ordinal Scale defined as:
- Death
- Hospitalized on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- Hospitalized on non-invasive ventilation or high flow nasal cannula
- Hospitalized on supplemental oxygen
- Hospitalized not on supplemental oxygen
- Not hospitalized with limitation in activity (continued symptoms)
- Not hospitalized without limitation in activity (no symptoms)
- COVID Ordinal Outcomes Scale on Study Day 29 (28 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: assessed on study day 29 ]
We will determine the COVID Ordinal Scale on study day 29
COVID Ordinal Scale defined as:
- Death
- Hospitalized on invasive mechanical ventilation or ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- Hospitalized on non-invasive ventilation or high flow nasal cannula
- Hospitalized on supplemental oxygen
- Hospitalized not on supplemental oxygen
- Not hospitalized with limitation in activity (continued symptoms)
- Not hospitalized without limitation in activity (no symptoms)
- All-location, All-cause Mortality Assessed on Study Day 15 (14 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: assessed on study day 15 ]
Vital status of the patient on day 15 will be determined using any of the following methods: medical record review, phone calls to patient or proxy.
There were two patients for whom we were unable to collect their vital status.
- All-location, All-cause Mortality Assessed on Study Day 29 (28 Days After Randomization) [ Time Frame: assessed on study day 29 ]
Vital status of the patient at day 28 will be determined using any of the following methods: medical record review, phone calls to patient or proxy.
There were two patients for whom we were unable to collect their vital status.
- Number of Patients Dead or With Receipt of ECMO Between Enrollment and Day 28 [ Time Frame: Enrollment to Day 28 ]We will determine the number of patients who are either dead or on ECMO ( extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) between enrollment and day 28
- Oxygen-free Days Through Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]The number of calendar days between randomization and 28 days later that the patient is alive and without the use of oxygen therapy. Patients who die prior to day 28 are assigned zero oxygen free days.
- Ventilator-free Days Through Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]Ventilator-free days is defined to be 28 days minus the duration of mechanical ventilation through day 28. Participants who do not survive to day 28 are assigned zero ventilator-free days.
- Vasopressor-free Days Through Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]The number of calendar days between randomization and 28 days later that the patient is alive and without the use of vasopressor therapy. Patients who die prior to day 28 are assigned zero vasopressor free days.
- ICU-free Days to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]The number of days spent out of the ICU to day 28. Patients who die prior to day 28 are assigned zero ICU free days.
- Hospital-free Days to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]Defined as 28 days minus the number of days from randomization to discharge home.If a patient has not been discharged home prior to day 28 or dies prior to day 28, hospital free days will be zero.
- Number of Patients With Seizures to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience seizure between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Atrial Arrhythmia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience atrial arrhythmia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience ventricular arrhythmia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Cardiac Arrest to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience cardiac arrest between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Elevation in Aspartate Aminotransferase or Alanine Aminotransferase to Twice the Local Upper Limit of Normal to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience elevation in aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase to twice the local upper limit of normal between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Acute Pancreatitis Arrest to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience acute pancreatitis between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Acute Kidney Injury to day28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience acute kidney injury between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Receipt of Renal Replacement Therapy to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience renal replacement therapy between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Symptomatic Hypoglycemia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience symptomatic hypoglycemia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Neutropenia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience neutropenia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Lymphopenia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience lymphopenia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Anemia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience anemia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Thrombocytopenia to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience thrombocytopenia between randomization and day 28
- Number of Patients With Severe Dermatologic Reaction to Day 28 [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]We will determine the number of patients that experience severe dermatologic reaction between randomization and day 28
- Time to Recovery, Defined as Time to Reaching Level 5, 6, or 7 on the COVID Outcomes Scale, Which is the Time to the Earlier of Final Liberation From Supplemental Oxygen or Hospital Discharge [ Time Frame: 28 days after randomization ]Time to recovery, defined as time to reaching level 5, 6, or 7 on the COVID Outcomes Scale, which is the time to the earlier of final liberation from supplemental oxygen or hospital discharge. Patients who die prior to day 28 are assigned 28 days for time to recovery.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥18 years
- Currently hospitalized or in an emergency department with anticipated hospitalization.
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Symptoms of acute respiratory infection, defined as one or more of the following:
- cough
- fever (> 37.5° C / 99.5° F)
- shortness of breath (operationalized as any of the following: subjective shortness of breath reported by patient or surrogate; tachypnea with respiratory rate ≥22 /minute; hypoxemia, defined as SpO2 <92% on room air, new receipt of supplemental oxygen to maintain SpO2 ≥92%, or increased supplemental oxygen to maintain SpO2 ≥92% for a patient on chronic oxygen therapy).
- sore throat
- Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within the past 10 days prior to randomization.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prisoner
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Symptoms of acute respiratory infection for >10 days before randomization
- >48 hours between meeting inclusion criteria and randomization
- Seizure disorder
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Diagnosis of Long QT syndrome
- QTc >500 ms on electrocardiogram within 72 hours prior to enrollment
- Known allergy to hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, or amodiaquine
- Receipt in the 12 hours prior to enrollment, or planned administration during the 5-day study period that treating clinicians feel cannot be substituted for another medication, of any of the following: amiodarone; cimetidine; dofetilide; phenobarbital; phenytoin; sotalol
- Receipt of >1 dose of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine in the 10 days prior to enrollment
- Inability to receive enteral medications
- Refusal or inability to be contacted on Day 15 for clinical outcome assessment if discharged prior to day 15
- Previous enrollment in this trial
- The treating clinical team does not believe equipoise exists regarding the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of this patient

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04332991

Principal Investigator: | Boyd Taylor Thompson, MD | Massachusetts General Hospital |
Documents provided by Boyd Taylor Thompson, Massachusetts General Hospital:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Boyd Taylor Thompson, Co-Prinicipal Investigator PETAL CCC, Massachusetts General Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04332991 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
PETAL 05 Orchid |
First Posted: | April 3, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | March 17, 2021 |
Last Update Posted: | March 17, 2021 |
Last Verified: | March 2021 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
COVID-19 |
Infections Communicable Diseases COVID-19 Respiratory Tract Infections Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Disease Attributes Pathologic Processes Pneumonia, Viral Pneumonia Virus Diseases Coronavirus Infections Coronaviridae Infections |
Nidovirales Infections RNA Virus Infections Lung Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Hydroxychloroquine Antimalarials Antiprotozoal Agents Antiparasitic Agents Anti-Infective Agents Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antirheumatic Agents |