Bromhexine COVID-19 studies. Bromhexine efficacy may vary depending on the degree of TMPRSS-dependent fusion for different variants [Peacock, Willett].
Recent:Vila Méndez Ghayour Cosentino.
Bromhexine has been officially adopted
in 1 country.
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Mar 30 |
(Preprint) (meta analysis) | Bromhexine for COVID-19: real-time meta analysis of 8 studies |
| Statistically significant improvements are seen for ventilation and ICU admission. 3 studies from 3 independent teams in 2 different countries show statistically significant improvements in isolation (not for the most serious outcome). .. | ||
Jan 3 |
et al., Research Square, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-2309373/v1 (Preprint) | Evaluation of the recovery rate and prevention of hospitalization among covid-19 outpatients: a randomized clinical trial comparing N-acetylcysteine with Bromhexine |
| 45% lower hospitalization [p=0.3] and 15% faster recovery [p=0.09]. RCT 150 outpatients in Iran comparing N-acetylcysteine and bromhexine, showing lower hospitalization and faster recovery with bromhexine, without statistical significance. Baseline information per group is not provided, and Figure 1 appea.. | ||
Dec 24 |
et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine, doi:10.3390/jcm12010142 | Efficacy of Bromhexine versus Standard of Care in Reducing Viral Load in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19 Disease Attended in Primary Care: A Randomized Open-Label Trial |
| 67% lower hospitalization [p=0.49] and 7% worse viral clearance [p=0.82]. RCT 191 low risk (no mortality) outpatients in Spain, showing no significant differences with bromhexine. Authors note that "statistical differences between the study groups were observed in the percentage of patients treated with.. | ||
Oct 18 |
et al., Journal of Clinical Medicine, doi:10.3390/jcm11206138 | Early Outpatient Treatment of COVID-19: A Retrospective Analysis of 392 Cases in Italy |
| Retrospective 392 outpatients in Italy showing 0.2% mortality with early treatment, compared with >3% in Italy at the time. Treatment varied for individual patients and included HCQ, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, quercetin, bromh.. | ||
Jan 3 |
et al., bioRxiv, doi:10.1101/2021.12.31.474653 (Preprint) (In Vitro) | The SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron, shows rapid replication in human primary nasal epithelial cultures and efficiently uses the endosomal route of entry |
| In Vitro study showing that omicron can efficiently enter cells via the endosomal route, independent of TMPRSS2. | ||
Jan 3 |
et al., medRxiv, doi:10.1101/2022.01.03.21268111 (Preprint) (In Vitro) | The hyper-transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant exhibits significant antigenic change, vaccine escape and a switch in cell entry mechanism |
| In Vitro study showing that the entry process for omicron has moved towards TMPRSS2-independent fusion, indicating that TMPRSS2 inhibitors may be less effective for omicron. | ||
Dec 20 2021 |
et al., SSRN, doi:10.2139/ssrn.3989 (Preprint) | Bromhexine, for Post Exposure COVID-19 Prophylaxis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Control Trial |
| 70% lower hospitalization [p=0.15], 53% fewer symptomatic cases [p=0.007], and 50% fewer cases [p=0.03]. PEP RCT with 372 close contacts of COVID+ patients, 187 treated with bromhexine, showing significantly lower cases with treatment. IRCT20120703010178N22. | ||
Apr 30 2021 |
et al., Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, doi:10.3389/fmolb.2021.666626 | Computational Identification of a Putative Allosteric Binding Pocket in TMPRSS2 |
| In Silico study of TMPRSS2 inhibition by camostat, nafamostat, and bromhexine, suggesting allosteric binding for bromhexine, compared to camostat and nafamostat which bind to the active site of TMPRSS2 forming covalent adducts. | ||
Mar 15 2021 |
et al., J. Investig. Med., doi:10.1136/jim-2020-001747 | Effect of bromhexine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 |
| 76% lower mortality [p=0.43], 76% greater improvement [p=0.43], and 75% worse viral clearance [p=0.02]. Small RCT with 100 patients, 48 with bromhexine added to SOC, showing slower viral- conversion but lower mortality and greater clinical improvement with bromhexine (not statistically significant with few deaths and very high recovery). Th.. | ||
Mar 8 2021 |
et al., medRxiv, doi:10.1101/2021.03.03.21252855 (Preprint) | Bromhexine Hydrochloride Prophylaxis of COVID-19 for Medical Personnel: A Randomized Open-Label Study |
| 91% fewer symptomatic cases [p=0.05] and 71% improved viral clearance [p=0.14]. Small prophylaxis RCT with 25 treatment and 25 control health care worker, showing lower PCR+, symptomatic cases, and hospitalization with treatment, although not statistically significant with the small sample size. | ||
Jan 31 2021 |
et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100701 (In Vitro) | Inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase by ambroxol prevents SARS-CoV-2 entry into epithelial cells |
| In Vitro study showing that ambroxol (a metabolite of bromhexine) inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection. | ||
Dec 31 2020 |
et al., Current Medical and Drug Research (Review) (Preprint) | The potential role of Bromhexine in the management of COVID-19: Decipher and a real game-changer |
| Review article noting that bromhexine is a TMPRSS2 inhibitor with greater effect in lung tissue and attenuates the entry and proliferation of SARS-CoV-2. | ||
Dec 3 2020 |
et al., Кардиология, doi:10.18087/cardio.2020.11.n1440 | Results of Open-Label non-Randomized Comparative Clinical Trial: “BromhexIne and Spironolactone for CoronаvirUs Infection requiring hospiTalization (BISCUIT) |
| 11% improved recovery [p=0.47], 8% shorter hospitalization [p=0.35], and 87% improved viral clearance [p=0.08]. Prospective 103 PCR+ patients in Russia, 33 treated with bromexhine+spironolactone, showing lower PCR+ at day 10 or hospitalization >10 days with treatment. Bromhexine 8mg 4 times daily, spironolactone 25-50 mg/day for 10 days. | ||
Sep 3 2020 |
et al., Clinical and Translational Science, doi:10.1111/cts.12881 | Bromhexine Hydrochloride Tablets for the Treatment of Moderate COVID-19: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Pilot Study |
| 75% higher hospital discharge [p=0.11] and 3% slower recovery. Tiny RCT with 12 bromhexine and 6 control patients showing non-statistically significant improvements in chest CT, need for oxygen therapy, and discharge rate within 20 days. Authors recommend a larger scale trial. | ||
Jul 19 2020 |
et al., Bioimpacts, doi:10.34172/bi.2020.27 | Effect of bromhexine on clinical outcomes and mortality in COVID-19 patients: A randomized clinical trial |
| 91% lower mortality [p=0.05], 89% lower ventilation [p=0.01], and 82% lower ICU admission [p=0.01]. RCT with 39 bromhexine and 39 control patients showing lower mortality, intubation, and ICU admission with treatment. The treatment group received bromhexine hydrochloride 8 mg three times a day for two weeks. All patients received SOC in.. | ||
May 26 2020 |
et al., Internal and Emergency Medicine, doi:10.1007/s11739-020-02383-3 (Theory) | Potential new treatment strategies for COVID-19: is there a role for bromhexine as add-on therapy? |
| Proposal to use bromhexine to inhibit TMPRSS2-specific viral entry for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. | ||
Apr 30 2020 |
et al., Pharmacol. Res., doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104853 (Theory) | Possible use of the mucolytic drug, bromhexine hydrochloride, as a prophylactic agent against SARS-CoV-2 infection based on its action on the Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 |
| Note on the potential use of bromhexine hydrochloride for prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2, based on the role of TMPRSS2 in SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the TMPRSS2 inhibition of bromhexine hydrochloride. | ||
Apr 22 2020 |
et al., Pharmacol Res., doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104837 (Review) | Repurposing the mucolytic cough suppressant and TMPRSS2 protease inhibitor bromhexine for the prevention and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Proposal to use bromhexine for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 based on TMPRSS2 inhibition, widespread clinical use, and supporting pharmacokinetic and safety data. | ||
Mar 5 2020 |
et al., Cell, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052 (In Vitro) | SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and Is Blocked by a Clinically Proven Protease Inhibito |
| In Vitro study showing that SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 for entry and TMPRSS2 for S protein priming, and that TMPRSS2 inhibitor camostat blocked entry and may be an effective treaetment. | ||
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