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Acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 symptoms limit daily activities, but little is known about its association with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral burden. In this exploratory analysis of placebo recipients in the ACTIV-2/A5401 platform trial, we showed that high anterior nasal RNA levels and detectable plasma RNA were associated with delayed symptom improvement.Clinical Trials Registration. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04518410.

Background Symptoms during acute COVID-19 can limit daily activities and delay return to work and school. Little is known about the association between SARS-CoV-2 burden in either the upper airway or plasma and the duration of COVID-19 symptoms. Methods ACTIV-2/A5401 is a platform trial for COVID-19 treatments in non-hospitalized symptomatic adults enrolled within 10 days of symptom onset. We included participants randomized to placebo from August 2020 to July 2021. Participants self-reported severity of 13 symptoms daily from day 0 (baseline) to 28 as Absent 0, Mild 1, Moderate 2, Severe 3; total symptom score was calculated as the sum of all scores. Anterior nasal (AN) and plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels at day 0 were measured with a quantitative qPCR assay. The relationship between day 0 RNA and time to symptom improvement or resolution (first of 2 consecutive days of all symptoms improved or resolved from day 0, respectively) was evaluated using proportional hazards regression adjusted for time from symptom onset. Time to resolution of distinct symptoms was also assessed. Results Among 570 participants randomized to placebo, median age was 48 years, 51% were female, and median time since symptom onset at baseline was 6 days; 7% had prior COVID-19 vaccination. At day 0, AN RNA was detectable in 80% with a median of 4.1 log10 copies/ml (n=533, quartiles: 1.7, 6.0) and plasma RNA was detectable in 19% (91/476). Detectable plasma RNA at day 0, but not AN RNA, was associated with more severe symptoms at day 0 (2.4-point higher mean total symptom score, P=0.001). Both high AN (≥6 vs < 2 log10 copies/ml, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.63, P=0.001) and detectable plasma RNA (aHR 0.74, P=0.03) at day 0 predicted delayed symptom improvement. High AN RNA at day 0 also predicted a delay in symptom resolution (aHR 0.59, P=0.001). Both high AN RNA and detectable plasma RNA levels predicted delays in the resolution of cough and shortness of breath. Detectable plasma RNA also predicted delayed body pain resolution. Conclusion COVID-19 outpatients with high AN or detectable plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA at day 0 are more likely to have prolonged symptoms, particularly respiratory symptoms. Additional studies are needed to determine whether the decline in viral load with early treatment impacts symptom duration. Disclosures Kara W. Chew, M.D., M.S., Merck Sharp & Dohme: Grant/Research Support|Pardes Bioscences: Advisor/Consultant Joseph J. Eron, MD, GSK: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant Eric S. Daar, M.D., Gilead: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV: Grant/Research Support David A. Wohl, M.D., Gilead: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Lilly: Grant/Research Support|ViiV: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV: Grant/Research Support Judith S. Currier, M.D., MSc, Merck: Advisor/Consultant Davey M. Smith, M.D., M.A.S., Arena Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant|Bayer Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant|Brio Clinical.: Advisor/Consultant|Fluxergy: Advisor/Consultant|Kiadis: Advisor/Consultant|Linear Therapies: Advisor/Consultant|Matrix BioMed: Advisor/Consultant|Model Medicines: Advisor/Consultant|Signant Health: Advisor/Consultant|VxBiosciences: Advisor/Consultant Jonathan Z. Li, MD, MMSc, Abbvie: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support.

Acute COVID-19 symptoms limit daily activities, but little is known about its association with SARS-CoV-2 viral burden. In this exploratory analysis of placebo recipients in the ACTIV-2/A5401 platform trial, we showed that high anterior nasal (AN) RNA levels and detectable plasma RNA were associated with delayed symptom improvement.

ImportanceThe antiviral activity and efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies to accelerate recovery from COVID-19 is important to define.ObjectiveTo determine safety and efficacy of the mAb bamlanivimab to reduce nasopharyngeal (NP) SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels and symptom duration.DesignACTIV-2/A5401 is a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled platform trial. Two dose cohorts were enrolled between August 19 and November 17, 2020 for phase 2 evaluation: in the first, participants were randomized 1:1 to bamlanivimab 7000 mg versus placebo, and in the second to bamlanivimab 700 mg versus placebo. Randomization was stratified by time from symptom onset (≤ or >5 days) and risk of progression to severe COVID-19 (“higher” vs “lower”).SettingMulticenter trial conducted at U.S. sites.ParticipantsNon-hospitalized adults ≥18 years of age with positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen or nucleic acid test within 7 days, ≤10 days of COVID-19 symptoms, and with oxygen saturation ≥92% within 48 hours prior to study entry.InterventionSingle infusion of bamlanivimab (7000 or 700 mg) or placebo.Main Outcomes and MeasuresDetection of NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA at days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28, time to improvement of all of 13 targeted COVID-19 symptoms by daily self-assessment through day 28, and grade 3 or higher treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) through day 28. Secondary measures included quantitative NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA, all-cause hospitalizations and deaths (composite), area under the curve of symptom scores from day 0 through day 28, plasma bamlanivimab concentrations, plasma and serum inflammatory biomarkers, and safety through week 24.ResultsNinety-four participants were enrolled to the 7000 mg cohort and 223 to the 700 mg cohort and initiated study intervention. The proportion meeting protocol criteria for “higher” risk for COVID-19 progression was 42% and 51% for the 7000 and 700 mg cohort, respectively. Median time from symptom onset at study entry for both cohorts was 6 days. There was no difference in the proportion with undetectable NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA at any post-treatment timepoints (risk ratio compared to placebo, 0.82-1.05 for 7000 mg dose [overall p=0.88] and 0.81-1.21 for 700 mg dose [overall p=0.49]), time to symptom improvement (median of 21 vs 18.5 days, p=0.97, for 7000 mg bamlanivimab vs placebo and 24 vs 20.5 days, p=0.08, for 700 mg bamlanivimab vs placebo), or grade 3+ TEAEs with either dose compared to placebo. Median NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels were lower at day 3 and C-reactive protein, ferritin, and fibrinogen levels significantly reduced at days 7 and 14 for bamlanivimab 700 mg compared to placebo, with similar trends observed for bamlanivimab 7000 mg. Viral decay modeling supported more rapid decay with bamlanivimab compared to placebo.Conclusions and RelevanceTreatment with bamlanivimab 7000 mg and 700 mg was safe and compared to placebo led to more rapid reductions in NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA and inflammatory biomarkers, but did not decrease time to symptom improvement. The clinical utility of mAbs for outcomes other than hospitalizations and deaths is uncertain.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04518410KEY POINTSQuestionWhat is the safety and efficacy of bamlanivimab monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19?FindingsIn this randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of 317 non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19, there was no relationship between symptoms or disease progression risk and nasopharyngeal (NP) virus shedding. Bamlanivimab was safe and reduced NP SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels and inflammatory biomarker levels more than placebo, but did not shorten symptom duration.MeaningNasal virus shedding was not associated with symptoms or baseline risk factors for severe COVID-19. Bamlanivimab, which has been associated with reduced hospitalizations in high-risk individuals, demonstrated antiviral activity with early post-treatment NP sampling but did not accelerate symptom improvement. The clinical utility of bamlanivimab for outcomes other than hospitalizations and deaths, including longer-term outcomes, is uncertain.

Background SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and the development of safe and effective therapeutics for the prevention of severe disease remains a priority. BRII-196 and BRII-198 are non-competing anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAbs with YTE triple amino acid substitution in Fc to extend half-life and reduce receptor binding, that are being studied for treatment of COVID-19 in the ACTIV-2 Trial, sponsored by NIAID and led by ACTG. Methods ACTIV-2 evaluates safety/efficacy of investigational agents for treatment of non-hospitalized adults with mild-moderate COVID-19 under a randomized, blinded, controlled adaptive platform. BRII-196/BRII-198 (1000 mg each) as a single dose given as sequential infusions, or placebo to those at high risk of clinical progression (i.e., age ≥ 60 years or presence of other medical conditions) within 10 days of symptom onset and positive test for SARS-CoV-2. The primary endpoint was hospitalization and/or death through day 28. We report Phase 3 BRII-196/BRII-198 trial results per DSMB recommendation following an interim analysis. Results Between January and July 2021, 837 participants (418 active, 419 placebo) from sites in the US (66%), Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina and the Philippines were randomized and received study product at time of emerging variants. Median age 49 years (Q1, Q3: 39, 58), 51% female, 17% Black/African-American and 49% Hispanic/Latino, with median 6 days from symptom onset. At interim analysis 71% and 97% had a day 28 and 7 visit, respectively. For all available data at interim review, BRII-196/BRII-198 compared to placebo had fewer hospitalizations (12 vs. 45) and deaths (1 vs. 9). At day 28 of follow-up, there was an estimated 78% reduction in hospitalization and/or death (2.4 vs. 11.1%), relative risk 0.22 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.86), P=0.00001 (nominal one-sided). Grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) were observed less frequently among BRII-196/BRII-198 participants than placebo (3.8% vs. 13.4%) with no severe infusion reactions or drug related serious AEs. Conclusion BRII-196/BRII-198 was safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated significant reduction compared to placebo in the risk of hospitalization and/or death among adults with mild-moderate COVID-19 at high risk for progression to severe disease. Disclosures Kara W. Chew, MD, MS, Amgen (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support; Merck Sharp & Dohme (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Grant/Research Support David Alain Wohl, MD, Gilead Sciences (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member, Consultant, Research Grant or Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator; Janssen (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member; Merck (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member, Research Grant or Support; ViiV (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Advisor or Review Panel member, Research Grant or Support Joseph J. Eron, MD, Gilead Sciences (Consultant, Research Grant or Support)Janssen (Consultant, Research Grant or Support)Merck (Consultant)ViiV (Consultant, Research Grant or Support) David A. Margolis, MD MPH, Brii Biosciences (Employee) Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH (Grant/Research Support) Davey Smith, M.D., Linear Therapies, Matrix Biomed, Bayer (Consultant, Shareholder) Eric Daar, Gilead (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)Merck (Consultant)ViiV (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)