Efficacy of Nafamostat in Covid-19 Patients (RACONA Study) (RACONA)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04352400 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : April 20, 2020
Last Update Posted : June 9, 2021
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RACONA is a prospective trial that will test the hypothesis that nafamostat can lower lung function deterioration and need for intensive care admission in COVID-19 patients.
Design: Adult hospitalized COVID-19 patients will be randomized in a prospective double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study to test the clinical efficacy of nafamostat mesylate (administered intravenously) on top of best standard of care.
Primary outcome measures: the time-to-clinical improvement, defined as the time from randomization to an improvement of two points (from the status at randomization) on a seven category ordinal scale or live discharge from the hospital, whichever comes first.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
COVID19 | Drug: Nafamostat Mesilate Drug: Placebo | Phase 2 Phase 3 |
Purpose: SARS-Cov-2 enters the lung cells by binding to ACE-2 and activating the protease TMPRSS2, which, therefore, can be a target for antiviral treatment. Accordingly, TMPRSS2 inhibitors prevent SARS-CoV cell entry in vitro. The most potent such inhibitors, nafamostat is being used as anticoagulant and anti-pancreatitis agent, and is approved for the treatment of cystic fibrosis as its mucolytic action can prevent lung function deterioration by owering airways infections.
RACONA study will test the hypothesize that nafamostat is useful in COVID-19 lung involvement because COVID-19 entails activation of the coagulation cascade, pulmonary embolism, and bacterial superinfections.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 256 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial, on top of best standard of care |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Masking Description: | Randomization will be done with an algorithm tailored to the study design. Investigators and patients will be blinded to the treatment administered. |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | RAndomized Clinical Trial in COvid19 Patients to Assess the Efficacy of the Transmembrane Protease Serine 2 (TMPRSS2) Inhibitor NAfamostat (RACONA Study) |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 4, 2021 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 2021 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 2021 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Nafamostat
Nafamostat mesylate on top of best standard of care.
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Drug: Nafamostat Mesilate
administered intravenously as a continuous infusion
Other Name: no alternative name. Commercial brands are available. |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo on top of best standard of care.
|
Drug: Placebo
administered intravenously as a continuous infusion
Other Name: no alternative name. |
- Time-to-clinical improvement [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Time-to-clinical improvement (time from randomization to an improvement of two points (from the status at randomization) on a 7 category ordinal scale or live discharge from the hospital, whichever came first.
- Responders [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Rate of patients showing improvement of 2 points in 7 category ordinal scale (with 7 points the worst)(PubMed ID: 32187464)
- Critical or dead patients [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Proportion of patients who will progress to critical illness/death
- pO2/FiO2 ratio [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Change in pO2/FiO2 ratio over time
- SOFA score over time [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Change Sequential organ failure assessment score (SOFA score) over time. The Score ranges from 0 to 24 (with 24 the worst)(PubMed ID: 11594901)
- Hospitalization [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Duration of hospitalization in survivors (days)
- Mechanical ventilation [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Number of patients who require ventilation
- Mechanical ventilation duration [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Duration of ventilation (days)
- Cardiovascular disease [ Time Frame: day 1 until day 28 ]Proportion of patients who develop arrhythmia, or myocardial infarction, or other cardiovascular disease not present at the baseline

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Hospitalized, COVID-19 positive, between 18 and ≤ 85 years of age;
- Signed Inform Consent Form;
- Body temperature > 37.3 ℃;
- Oxygenation criterion (any of the following): i) Oxygen saturation ≤94% on Room Air; ii) PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤300 mmHg but > 100 mmHg, if patient on supplemental oxygen; iii) SpO2/FiO2<200 if no arterial blood gas available;
- Respiratory rate (RR) ≥ 25 beats/min.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or lactating females;
- Unwillingness or inability to complete the study.
- Rapidly deteriorating clinical condition or low likelihood to complete the study according to the investigator;
- eGFR < 30 ml/min/m2 assessed with CKD EPI formula;
- Current or chronic history of liver disease (Child Pugh score ≥ 10), or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities;
- Participation in a clinical trial with an investigational product within the following time period prior to the first dosing day in the current study: 5 half-lives or twice the duration of the biological effect of the investigational product (whichever is longer);
- Patients requiring high doses of loop diuretics (i.e. > 240 mg furosemide daily) with significant intravascular volume depletion, as assessed clinically;
- History of allergy;
- History of sensitivity to heparin or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia;
- Unstable hemodynamics in the preceding 4 hours (SBP < 90 mmHg, and/or vasoactive agents required);
- Hemoglobin < 7 at time of drug infusion. Transfusion is allowed to increase hemoglobin levels before entry into the study;
- Malignancy or any other condition for which estimated 6-month mortality >50%;
- Arterial blood pH less than 7.2;
- Known evidence of chronic interstitial infiltration at imaging;
- Known hospitalization within the past six months for respiratory failure (PaCO2 > 50 mmHg or PaO2 < 55 mmHg, or oxygen saturation <88% on FiO2 = 0.21);
- Known chronic vascular disease resulting in severe exercise restriction (i.e. unable to perform household duties);
- Known secondary polycythemia, severe pulmonary hypertension, or ventilator dependency;
- Known vasculitis with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage;.
- Pre-existing renal failure on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis requiring renal replacement therapy;
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO);
- Immunosuppressive treatment;
- Patient in trials for COVID-19 within 30 days before;
- Unstable hemodynamics in the preceding 4 hours (MAP ≤ 65 mmHg, or SAP < 90 mmHg, DAP < 60 mmHg, and vasoactive agents required);
- Hyperkalemia , i.e. serum K+ levels > 5.0 mEq/L;
- Severe active bleeding;
- Any other uncontrolled comorbidities that increase the risks associated with the study drug administration, as assessed by the medical expert team.

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): NCT04352400
Contact: Gian Paolo Rossi, Prof. | 0039049821 ext 2279 | gianpaolo.rossi@unipd.it |
Italy | |
Azienda Ospedale Università di Padova | Recruiting |
Padova, Italy, 35128 | |
Contact: Gian Paolo Rossi, Prof. | |
Sub-Investigator: Andrea Vianello, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Gabriella Guarnieri, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Sara Lococo, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Beatrice Molena, BSc | |
Principal Investigator: Paola Fioretto, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Filippo Farnia, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Federico Capone, MD | |
Principal Investigator: Annamaria Cattelan, MD | |
Sub-Investigator: Maria Mazzitelli, MD |
Principal Investigator: | Gian Paolo Rossi, Prof. | University of Padova, Italy |

The link https://ncov.medsci.ox.ac.uk allows connection to EDCap database, a secure web platform for building and managing online databases and surveys. Data collection will use the WHO Case Record Form.
Publications of Results:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Gian Paolo Rossi, MD, FAHA, FACC, Prof., University Hospital Padova |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04352400 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RACONA Nafamostat |
First Posted: | April 20, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 9, 2021 |
Last Verified: | June 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Nafamostat proteases TMPRSS2 covid-19 coronavirus |
COVID-19 Respiratory Tract Infections Infections Pneumonia, Viral Pneumonia Virus Diseases Coronavirus Infections Coronaviridae Infections Nidovirales Infections RNA Virus Infections Lung Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Nafamostat Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal Analgesics, Non-Narcotic |
Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Anti-Inflammatory Agents Antirheumatic Agents Anticoagulants Protease Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Trypsin Inhibitors Serine Proteinase Inhibitors Complement Inactivating Agents Immunosuppressive Agents Immunologic Factors |