c19early.org COVID-19 treatment researchCOVID-19 treatments

A Proof of Concept, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Orally Administered Belnacasan Tablets for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate COVID-19

Wortmann et al., NCT05164120, NCT05164120, Oct 2022
Early treatmentDouble-blind RCT · NCT05164120 · 40 patients · USA
Belnacasan for COVID-19
Wortmann et al. NCT05164120 · October 2022
Outcome
Improvement
Relative Risk · 95% CI
Recovery time
-34%1.34 · 0.78–2.29
Recovery time, WHO 0
-43%1.43 · 0.99–2.06
Recovery time, WHO 1
-31%1.31 · 0.71–2.41
00.511.52+
← Belnacasan
reduces riskBelnacasan
increases risk →
Slower recovery with belnacasan
Not statistically significant · p = 0.29
RCT 40 outpatients in the USA, showing no significant difference in recovery with belnacasan treatment.
Standard of Care (SOC) for COVID-19 in the study country, the USA, is very poor with very low average efficacy for approved treatments1. Only expensive, high-profit treatments were approved for early treatment. Low-cost treatments were excluded, reducing the probability of early treatment due to access and cost barriers, and eliminating complementary and synergistic benefits seen with many low-cost treatments.
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OutcomeImprovementEffect · pTreatmentControl
recovery time 33.8% higher · relative time 1.34 · p = 0.29 33.8% higherrelative time 1.34p = 0.29 mean 20.6 (±18.1) n=14 mean 15.4 (±7.8) n=17 mean 20.6 (±18.1) n=14, mean 15.4 (±7.8) n=17time to sustained recovery or resolution of common COVID-19 symptoms
recovery time 43.2% higher · relative time 1.43 · p = 0.05 43.2% higherrelative time 1.43p = 0.05 mean 27.2 (±14.3) n=17 mean 19.0 (±8.9) n=17 mean 27.2 (±14.3) n=17, mean 19.0 (±8.9) n=17time to WHO scale 0
recovery time 31.0% higher · relative time 1.31 · p = 0.39 31.0% higherrelative time 1.31p = 0.39 mean 9.3 (±6.1) n=15 mean 7.1 (±5.0) n=8 mean 9.3 (±6.1) n=15, mean 7.1 (±5.0) n=8time to WHO scale 1

Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates.

Wortmann et al., 11 Oct 2022, Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial, placebo-controlled, USA, preprint, 1 author, trial NCT05164120 (history). Contact: Alexander.Kroemer@gunet.georgetown.edu, Khalid.M.Khan@gunet.georgetown.edu.
$0 $500 $1,000+ Efficacy vs. cost for COVID-19 treatment protocols c19early.org November 2026 USA Angola Colombia Kenya Mozambique Myanmar South Africa Peru Philippines Vietnam Japan Argentina Nepal Iran Bangladesh Ethiopia Ghana Germany Mexico South Korea United Kingdom Saudi Arabia Algeria Morocco Yemen Poland Uzbekistan India China Venezuela DR Congo Madagascar Thailand Uganda Egypt Nigeria Taiwan Fiji Zambia Bosnia-Herzegovina Jordan Georgia Switzerland Dominican Republic Bolivia Côte d'Ivoire Eritrea Togo Bulgaria Greece Slovakia Iceland New Zealand Trinidad and Tobago Mongolia Czechia Belarus Israel Haiti North Macedonia Hong Kong Qatar Panama Serbia USA favored high-profit treatments.The average efficacy of treatments was very low.High-cost protocols reduce early treatment, andforgo complementary/synergistic benefits. More effective More expensive 75% 50% 25% ≤0%
$0 $500 $1,000+ Efficacy vs. cost for COVID-19treatment protocols worldwide c19early.org November 2026 USA Angola Colombia Kenya Mozambique Myanmar South Africa Peru Philippines Vietnam Japan Argentina Nepal Iran Bangladesh Ethiopia Ghana Germany Mexico South Korea United Kingdom Saudi Arabia Algeria Morocco Yemen Poland Uzbekistan India China Venezuela DR Congo Madagascar Thailand Uganda Egypt Taiwan Fiji Zambia Jordan Georgia Switzerland Dominican Rep. Bolivia Côte d'Ivoire Eritrea Togo Sri Lanka Bulgaria Greece Slovakia New Zealand Trinidad and Tobago Mongolia Czechia Belarus Israel North Macedonia Hong Kong Qatar Panama Serbia USA favored high-profit treatments.The average efficacy was very low.High-cost protocols reduce early treatment,and forgo complementary/synergistic benefits. More effective More expensive 75% 50% 25% ≤0%