TAF/FTC for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers (CoviPrep Study)

NCT ID: NCT04405271

Last Updated: 2025-09-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

1378 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-07-31

Study Completion Date

2020-11-15

Brief Summary

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A randomized parallel double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) compared with placebo on the risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in healthcare workers with high transmission risk in addition to currently recommended control measures.

Detailed Description

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Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Phase III clinical trial for a new indication

Rationale One of the most affected subgroups during the current pandemic is represented by healthcare workers. In Argentina between 14 and 17% of the total COVID-19 cases are represented by this subgroup. In this sense, it appears as an adequate strategy testing the efficacy of pharmacological PrEP approaches on top of the currently recommended control measures.

The use of placebo is warranted for two main reasons: all healthcare workers will be allowed and encouraged to comply with non-pharmacological infection control measures for the protection of viral transmission. On the other hand, the use of a blinded placebo is intended for avoiding relaxation of the non-pharmacological control measures.

Tenofovir has been identified by both docking and in vitro studies as an inhibitor of RdRp (RNA dependent RNA polymerase) of coronavirus.

FTC/TAF has the additional advantage that is already being used in a pre-exposure prophylaxis setting and its safety is widely known.

Main objective To evaluate the risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) in healthcare workers with high transmission risk in addition to currently recommended control measures.

Conditions

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Healthcare Workers COVID-19 SARS-CoV 2

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors
The treatment will be the same in both arms: 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks. Placebo and the active principle will be indistinguishable.

Study Groups

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FTC/TAF

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) in 200 mg/25 mg tablets. A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide 200 MG-25 MG Oral Tablet

Intervention Type DRUG

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) in 200 mg/25 mg tablets. A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks

Placebo

Identical tablets to the active experimental tablets with the same characteristics and packaging. A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks.

Interventions

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Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide 200 MG-25 MG Oral Tablet

Emtricitabine/Tenofovir alafenamide (FTC/TAF) in 200 mg/25 mg tablets. A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

A dose of 1 tablet per day will be administered for a total of 12 weeks.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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FTC/TAF Placebo comparator

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Healthcare workers voluntarily deciding to participate in the study
2. Understanding the study purpose
3. Having between 18 and 70 years old
4. Having a high transmission risk for Covid-19. Physicians, nurses, lab technicians, physical therapists, or cleaning personnel working at COVID-19 areas, hospital emergency areas, or Intensive care units from healthcare institutions with the direct assistance of patients with Covid-19.
5. Not having a prior diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19)
6. Having a negative IgM/IgG antibodies test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) prior to study entry
7. Negative pregnancy test for childbearing age women within 7 days prior to study entry.
8. Childbearing age males and females should comply with the use of a proven contraceptive method (double barrier methods, oral contraceptives or contraceptive hormone implants) during the course of the study and at least one month after study completion.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Having symptoms compatible with COVID-19
2. Diagnosed HIV infection
3. Current use of Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
4. Diagnosed Hepatitis B infection.
5. Diagnosed renal insufficiency and or current hemodialysis need
6. Diagnosed osteoporosis under pharmacological treatment.
7. Weight \< 40kg
8. Current immunosuppressive or serious hematological condition
9. Prior use of pre-exposure prophylaxis for SARS-CoV-2
10. Current pregnancy or pregnancy plan within the study course.
11. Current breastfeeding
12. Known hypersensitivity to any of the study medication components.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Sociedad Argentina de Infectología (SADI) (Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Waldo Horacio Belloso

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Waldo H Belloso, MD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

Ventura Simonovich, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

HIBA

Esteban Nannini, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sanatorio Britanico

Wanda Cornistein, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Austral

Marcelo Figueiras, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Richmond Laboratorio

Elvira Zini, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Richmond Laboratorio

Fernando Riera, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sanatorio Allende (Córdoba)

Omar Sued, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

HUESPED

Santiago Ramirez Borga, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Italiano de La Plata

Gustavo Costilla Campero, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Padilla (Tucumán)

Gustavo D Lopardo, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Bernardo Houssay

Gonzalo Corral, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Alende (Mar del Plata)

Locations

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Sociedad Argentina de Infectología, A. J. Carranza 974

Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.D., Argentina

Site Status

Countries

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Argentina

References

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Elfiky AA. Anti-HCV, nucleotide inhibitors, repurposing against COVID-19. Life Sci. 2020 May 1;248:117477. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.117477. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32119961 (View on PubMed)

Castillo-Mancilla JR, Meditz A, Wilson C, Zheng JH, Palmer BE, Lee EJ, Gardner EM, Seifert S, Kerr B, Bushman LR, MaWhinney S, Anderson PL. Reduced immune activation during tenofovir-emtricitabine therapy in HIV-negative individuals. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2015 Apr 15;68(5):495-501. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000000529.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25763783 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/coronavirus-COVID-19/sala-situacion

Sala de Situación Coronavirus online - Ministerio de Salud de la Nación

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.03.002

Reasons for healthcare workers becoming infected with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China

https://www.croiconference.org/abstract/phase-3-discover-study-daily-ftaf-or-ftdf-hiv-preexposure-prophylaxis/

THE PHASE 3 DISCOVER STUDY: DAILY F/TAF OR F/TDF FOR HIV PREEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6808931/

1962\. Renal Outcomes for Participants Taking F/TAF vs. F/TDF for HIV PrEP in the DISCOVER Trial

Other Identifiers

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5616

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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