Potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized non-intubated COVID-19 patients — the randomized, EU-wide, placebo-controlled, phase II study design of IXION

Background: More than 2.7 million hospitalizations of COVID-19-infected patients have occurred in Europe alone since the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2020. Interventions against SARS-CoV-2 are still in high need to prevent admissions to ICUs worldwide. FX06, a naturally occurring peptide in humans and other mammals, has the potential to reduce capillary leak by improving endothelial dysfunction and thus preventing the deterioration of patients. With IXION, we want to investigate the potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized, non-intubated COVID-19 patients. Methods: IXION is an EU-wide, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel, randomized (2:1) phase II clinical study. Patient recruitment will start in September 2022 (to Q2/2023) in Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Romania, Portugal, and France. A total of 306 hospitalized patients (>= 18 years and < 75 years) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and a COVID-19 severity of 4-6 according to the WHO scale will be enrolled. After randomization to FX06 or placebo, patients will be assessed until day 28 (and followed up until day 60). FX06 (2 x 200 mg per day) or placebo will be administered intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The primary endpoint is to demonstrate a difference in the proportion of patients with progressed/worsened disease state in patients receiving FX06 compared to patients receiving placebo. Secondary endpoints are lung function, oxygen saturation and breathing rate, systemic inflammation, survival, capillary refill time, duration of hospital stay, and drug accountability. Discussion: With IXION, the multidisciplinary consortium aims to deliver a new therapy in addition to standard care against SARS-CoV-2 for the clinical management of COVID-19 during mild and moderate stages. Potential limitations might refer to a lack of recruiting and drop-out due to various possible protocol violations. While we controlled for drop-outs in the same size estimation, recruitment problems may be subject to external problems difficult to control for

BMJ Med

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of covid-19 convalescent plasma to treat patients admitted to hospital for moderate covid-19 disease with or without underlying immunodeficiency (CORIPLASM trial). DESIGN: Open label, randomised clinical trial. SETTING: CORIMUNO-19 cohort (publicly supported platform of open label, randomised controlled trials of immune modulatory drugs in patients admitted to hospital with moderate or severe covid-19 disease) based on 19 university and general hospitals across France, from 16 April 2020 to 21 April 2021. PARTICIPANTS: 120 adults (n=60 in the covid-19 convalescent plasma group, n=60 in the usual care group) admitted to hospital with a positive SARS-CoV2 test result, duration of symptoms 40. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were proportion of patients with a WHO Clinical Progression Scale score of ≥6 on the 10 point scale on day 4 (higher values indicate a worse outcome), and survival without assisted ventilation or additional immunomodulatory treatment by day 14. Secondary outcomes were changes in WHO Clinical Progression Scale scores, overall survival, time to discharge, and time to end of dependence on oxygen supply. Predefined subgroups analyses included immunosuppression status, duration of symptoms before randomisation, and use of steroids. RESULTS: 120 patients were recruited and assigned to covid-19 convalescent plasma (n=60) or usual care (n=60), including 22 (covid-19 convalescent plasma) and 27 (usual care) patients who were immunocompromised. 13 (22%) patients who received convalescent plasma had a WHO Clinical Progression Scale score of ≥6 at day 4 versus eight (13%) patients who received usual care (adjusted odds ratio 1.88, 95% credible interval 0.71 to 5.24). By day 14, 19 (31.6%) patients in the convalescent plasma group and 20 (33.3%) patients in the usual care group needed ventilation, additional immunomodulatory treatment, or had died. For cumulative incidence of death, three (5%) patients in the convalescent plasma group and eight (13%) in the usual care group died by day 14 (adjusted hazard ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 1.53), and seven (12%) patients in the convalescent plasma group and 12 (20%) in the usual care group by day 28 (adjusted hazard ratio 0.51, 0.20 to 1.32). In a subgroup analysis performed in patients who were immunocompromised, transfusion of covid-19 convalescent plasma was associated with mortality (hazard ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.14 to 1.10). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, covid-19 convalescent plasma did not improve early outcomes in patients with moderate covid-19 disease. The efficacy of convalescent plasma in patients who are immunocompromised should be investigated further. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04345991

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P &lt; 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Prophylaxis by doravirine-lamivudine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or elvitegravir-cobicistat-emtricitabine-tenofovir alafenamide after sexual exposure to HIV

Abstract HIV post- exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a prevention tool for individuals with a recent potential exposure to HIV. Doravirine has been available since 2019 in combination with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and lamivudine and has not been evaluated as a PEP. DOR/3TC/TDF is our department’s most commonly prescribed PEP treatment since 2021. This study evaluates the completion rate of the DOR/3TC/TDF as compared to EVG/c/FTC/TAF for PEP, which was the regimen prescribed until 2020 in our hospital. This retrospective observational study was conducted between January 2020 and September 2021. The subjects included consecutively were adults who consulted for an HIV sexual exposure accident and for whom DOR/3TC/TDF in 2021 or EVG/c/FTC/TAF in 2020 was prescribed. The outcomes were the completion rate to the end of treatment (28 days), the seroconversion rate, and the description of side effects. During the study period, 311 people were included: 140 treated with DOR/3TC/TDF and 171 treated with EVGc/FTC/TAF. Considering subjects with a follow-up visit, the completion rate was 96.8% (90/93) in the DOR/3TC/TDF group, and 94.6% (123/130) in the EVG/c/FTC/TAF group (p-value: 0.53). The number of people lost to follow-up was nearly equivalent in both groups: 27.1% (38/140) in the DOR/3TC/TDF group and 23.4% (40/171) in the EVG/c/FTC/TAF group (p-value: 0.45). A side effect was described for 38% (36/94) in the DOR/3TC/TDF group, and 29.7% (38/128) in the EVG/c/FTC/TAF group. No cases of seroconversion were observed. DOR/3TC/TDF appears to have a similar safety profile to EVG/c/FTC/TAF. Due to its lower cost, it seems to be a treatment option for consideration in the context of HIV-exposure accidents

Severe COVID-19 infection in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria on eculizumab therapy

International audienc

Evidence of sexual transmission of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing enterobacterales: a cross-sectional and prospective study

International audienceBackground Extended-spectrum β-lactamase\textendash producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) represent a major threat to public health. Little is known on their potential for sexual transmission. Methods We recruited individuals at a sexually transmitted infection and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outpatient clinic in Paris, France, in whom we evaluated the prevalence of ESBL-E intestinal carriage and, among those testing positive, the proportion with clearance 6 months thereafter. We compared carriage prevalence between groups using logistic regression adjusted for age, geographic origin, travel outside Europe, and antibiotic use in the past 6 months. Results A total of 2157 individuals participated, of whom 226 (10.5%) were ESBL-E carriers. The proportions of ESBL-E carriers varied across sexual groups and were as follows: HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) and who were on preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 16.3% (41 of 251); HIV-negative MSM not on PrEP, 9.7% (47 of 487); HIV-positive MSM, 12.2% (61 of 500); HIV-negative men who have sex exclusively with women, 10.0% (44 of 439); and HIV-negative women who have sex with men, 6.9% (n\hspace0.25em=\hspace0.25em33 of 480). After adjustment, ESBL-E prevalence was significantly higher in HIV-negative MSM on PrEP (P\hspace0.25em&lt;\hspace0.25em.001) and HIV-positive MSM (P\hspace0.25em=\hspace0.25em.01) than in women who have sex with men. A higher number of sexual partners in the past 6 months was associated with ESBL-E carriage after adjustment (P\hspace0.25em=\hspace0.25em.004). Escherichia coli sequence type 14 and blaSHV-12\textendash producing ESBL-E were observed only in MSM. Of 102 individuals with ESBL-E returning for testing, 26 (25%) had carriage at 6 months. Conclusion ESBL-E carriage is more frequent in MSM undergoing PrEP or living with HIV and with increasing number of sexual partners. More research is warranted to understand the consequences of ESBL-E carriage in these populations and how transmission can be reduced

Prophylaxie préexposition au VIH (PrEP) en médecine générale : existe-t-il des freins ?

International audiencePurpose of the studyThe purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of ovine umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) seeded in a fibrin patch as an adjuvant therapy for fetal myelomeningocele repair in the ovine model.Materials and methodsMMC defects were surgically created at 75 days of gestation and repaired 15 days later with UC-MSCs patch or an acellular patch. At birth, motor function, tail movements, and voiding abilities were recorded. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis included study of MMC defect's healing, spinal cord, UC-MSCs survival, and screening for tumors.ResultsSix lambs were born alive in each group. There was no difference between the two groups on the median sheep locomotor rating score but all lambs in the control group had a score between lower than 3 compared to 50% in UC-MSCs group. There were more lambs with tail movements and voiding ability in UC-MSCs group (83% vs 0% and 50% vs 0%, respectively). gray matter area and large neurons density were higher in UC-MSCs group (2.5 vs 0.8 mm2 and 19.3 vs 1.6 neurons/mm2 of gray matter, respectively). Fibrosis thickness at the myelomeningocele scar level was reduced in UC-MSCs group (1269 µm vs 2624 µm). No tumors were observed.ConclusionFetal repair of myelomeningocele using allogenic UC-MSCs patch provides a moderate improvement in neurological functions, gray matter and neuronal preservation and prevented from fibrosis development at the myelomeningocele scar level

Sexually Transmitted Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII Infection among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Transmission of dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII, during sexual intercourse has been recently reported. We report 13 such cases in France. All patients were male; 12 were men who have sex with men. Our findings suggest sexual transmission of this pathogen within a specific population, men who have sex with men

Sotrovimab therapy elicits antiviral activities against Omicron BQ.1.1 and XBB.1.5 in sera of immunocompromised patients [letter]

International audienc

Effects of Standard-Dose Prophylactic, High-Dose Prophylactic, and Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Patients With Hypoxemic COVID-19 Pneumonia The ANTICOVID Randomized Clinical Trial

International audienceIMPORTANCE Given the high risk of thrombosis and anticoagulation-related bleeding in patients with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia, identifying the lowest effective dose of anticoagulation therapy for these patients is imperative. OBJECTIVES To determine whether therapeutic anticoagulation (TA) or high-dose prophylactic anticoagulation (HD-PA) decreases mortality and/or disease duration compared with standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation (SD-PA), and whether TA outperforms HD-PA; and to compare the net clinical outcomes among the 3 strategies. DESIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS The ANTICOVID randomized clinical open-label trial included patients with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen and having no initial thrombosis on chest computer tomography with pulmonary angiogram at 23 health centers in France from April 14 to December 13, 2021. Of 339 patients randomized, 334 were included in the primary analysis-114 patients in the SD-PA group, 110 in the HD-PA, and 110 in the TA. At randomization, 90% of the patients were in the intensive care unit. Data analyses were performed from April 13, 2022, to January 3, 2023. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive either SD-PA, HD-PA, or TA with low-molecular-weight or unfractionated heparin for 14 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES A hierarchical criterion of all-cause mortality followed by time to clinical improvement at day 28. Main secondary outcome was net clinical outcome at day 28 (composite of thrombosis, major bleeding, and all-cause death). RESULTS Among the study population of 334 individuals (mean [SD] age, 58.3 [13.0] years; 226 [67.7%] men and 108 [32.3%] women), use of HD-PA and SD-PA had similar probabilities of favorable outcome (47.3% [95%CI, 39.9% to 54.8%] vs 52.7%[95%CI, 45.2%to 60.1%]; P = .48), as did TA compared with SD-PA (50.9% [95%CI, 43.4%to 58.3%] vs 49.1% [95%CI, 41.7%to 56.6%]; P = .82) and TA compared with HD-PA (53.5%[95%CI 45.8% to 60.9%] vs 46.5% [95%CI, 39.1% to 54.2%]; P = .37). Net clinical outcome was met in 29.8% of patients receiving SD-PA (20.2%thrombosis, 2.6%bleeding, 14.0% death), 16.4% receiving HD-PA (5.5%thrombosis, 3.6%bleeding, 11.8%death), and 20.0% receiving TA (5.5% thrombosis, 3.6% bleeding, 12.7%death). Moreover, HD-PA and TA use significantly reduced thrombosis compared with SD-PA (absolute difference, -14.7 [95%CI -6.2 to -23.2] and -14.7 [95%CI -6.2 to -23.2], respectively). Use of HD-PA significantly reduced net clinical outcome compared with SD-PA (absolute difference, -13.5; 95%CI -2.6 to -24.3). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This randomized clinical trial found that compared with SD-PA, neither HD-PAnor TAuse improved the primary hierarchical outcome of all-cause mortality or time to clinical improvement in patients with hypoxemicCOVID-19 pneumonia; however, HD-PA resulted in significantly better net clinical outcome by decreasing the risk of de novo thrombosis