Effect of ArtemiC in patients with COVID-19: A Phase II prospective study
Hellou et al.,
Effect of ArtemiC in patients with COVID-19: A Phase II prospective study,
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, doi:10.1111/jcmm.17337, NCT04382040
RCT 50 hospitalized patients in Israel, 33 treated with curcumin, vitamin C, artemisinin, and frankincense oral spray, showing improved recovery with treatment.
This study is excluded in meta
analysis:
combined treatments may contribute more to the effect seen.
relative NEWS2 score, 76.7% better, RR 0.23, p = 0.04, treatment mean 0.52 (±0.67) n=33, control mean 2.23 (±3.2) n=17, day 15.
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risk of oxygen therapy, 92.2% lower, RR 0.08, p = 0.01, treatment 0 of 33 (0.0%), control 4 of 17 (23.5%), NNT 4.2, relative risk is not 0 because of continuity correction due to zero events (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm), day 15.
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oxygen time, 69.7% lower, relative time 0.30, p = 0.17, treatment mean 2.3 (±1.4) n=33, control mean 7.6 (±4.6) n=17.
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hospitalization time, 13.3% lower, relative time 0.87, p = 0.92, treatment mean 7.8 (±7.3) n=33, control mean 9.0 (±8.0) n=17.
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risk of no viral clearance, 9.8% lower, RR 0.90, p = 0.77, treatment 14 of 33 (42.4%), control 8 of 17 (47.1%), NNT 22, day 15.
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Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates
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Hellou et al., 19 May 2022, Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, placebo-controlled, Israel, peer-reviewed, 6 authors, this trial uses multiple treatments in the treatment arm (combined with curcumin, artemisinin, and frankincense) - results of individual treatments may vary, trial
NCT04382040 (history).
Abstract: Received: 12 September 2021
| Revised: 6 March 2022 | Accepted: 5 April 2022
DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17337
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Effect of ArtemiC in patients with COVID-19: A Phase II
prospective study
Elias Hellou1,2,3
| Jameel Mohsin2,3 | Ameer Elemy4 | Fahed Hakim4,5 |
Mona Mustafa-Hellou3,6 | Shadi Hamoud3,6
1
Department of Cardiology, E.M.M.S
Hospital, Nazareth, Israel
2
Department of Cardiology, Hillel Yaffe
Hospital, Hadera, Israel
3
Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,
Technion-Israel Institute of Technology,
Haifa, Israel
4
Victory Department for COVID-19
Patients, E.M.M.S Hospital, Nazareth,
Israel
5
Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan
University, Zefat, Israel
6
Department of Internal Medicine E,
Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa,
Israel
Correspondence
Elias Hellou, Department of Cardiology,
E.M.M.S Hospital, POB 201, Nazareth ZIP
16000, Israel.
Email: Eliasgh@gmail.com
Abstract
Despite intensive efforts, there is no effective remedy for COVID-19. Moreover,
vaccination efficacy declines over time and may be compromised against new
SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Therefore, there remains an unmet need for simple, accessible, low-cost and effective pharmacological anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. ArtemiC is a
medical product comprising artemisinin, curcumin, frankincense and vitamin C, all of
which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The present Phase II
placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multi-centred, prospective study evaluated the
efficacy and safety of ArtemiC in patients with COVID-19. The study included 50
hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients randomized (2:1) to receive ArtemiC or
placebo oral spray, twice daily on Days 1 and 2, beside standard care. A physical examination was performed, and vital signs and blood tests were monitored daily until
hospital discharge (or Day 15). A PCR assessment of SARS-CoV-2 carriage was performed at screening and on last visit. ArtemiC improved NEWS2 in 91% of patients
and shortened durations of abnormal SpO2 levels, oxygen supplementation and fever.
No treatment-related adverse events were reported. These findings suggest that
ArtemiC curbed deterioration, possibly by limiting cytokine storm of COVID-19, thus
bearing great promise for COVID-19 patients, particularly those with comorbidities.
KEYWORDS
ArtemiC, artemisinin, COVID-19, curcumin, Vitamin C
1
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I NTRO D U C TI O N
organs, particularly in aged patients with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, heart failure and respiratory diseases. 2,3 Critically ill cases
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which initially
are characterized by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
emerged in Wuhan-South-eastern China in 2019, is caused by severe
and septic shock, as well as multiple organ dysfunction or failure. 2–4
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is as-
Human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor serves as
sociated with significant morbidity and mortality among vulnerable
the binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 in human host cells, exploiting
patients.1 This grim situation is mainly attributed to the poor under-
its high affinity to this enzyme to inflict remarkable damage to key
standing of the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2-induced injury to vital
target organs.5–7
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original..
Late treatment
is less effective
hellou
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