A Phase 2 Trial of the Effect of Antiandrogen Therapy on COVID-19 Outcome : No Evidence of Benefit, Supported by Epidemiology and In Vitro Data

Background: Men are more severely affected by COVID-19. Testosterone may influence SARS-CoV-2 infection and the immune response. Objective: To clinically, epidemiologically, and experimentally evaluate the effect of antiandrogens on SARS-CoV-2 infection. Designs, settings, and participants: A randomized phase 2 clinical trial (COVIDENZA) enrolled 42 hospitalized COVID-19 patients before safety evaluation. We also conducted a population-based retrospective study of 7894 SARS-CoV-2–positive prostate cancer patients and an experimental study using an air-liquid interface three-dimensional culture model of primary lung cells. Intervention: In COVIDENZA, patients were randomized 2:1 to 5 d of enzalutamide or standard of care. Outcome measurements: The primary outcomes in COVIDENZA were the time to mechanical ventilation or discharge from hospital. The population-based study investigated risk of hospitalization, intensive care, and death from COVID-19 after androgen inhibition. Results and limitations: Enzalutamide-treated patients required longer hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] for discharge from hospital 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20–0.93) and the trial was terminated early. In the epidemiological study, no preventive effects were observed. The frail population of patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide had a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.52–4.16). In vitro data showed no effect of enzalutamide on virus replication. The epidemiological study has limitations that include residual confounders. Conclusions: The results do not support a therapeutic effect of enzalutamide or preventive effects of bicalutamide or ADT in COVID-19. Thus, these antiandrogens should not be used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients or as prevention for COVID-19. Further research on these therapeutics in this setting are not warranted. Patient summary: We studied whether inhibition of testost
Funding agencies: This investigator-initiated trial was supported by an unconditional research grant from Astellas Pharma Ltd. The sponsor had no role in the study design; in the data collection, analysis, or interpretation; or in writing the manuscript. AJ is supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and Swedish Prostate Cancer Federation. KW is supported by the Swedish Cancer Society (CAN 2017/478 and 20 1055 PjF) and the Swedish Prostate Cancer Federation. AKÖ is supported by the Swedish Heart Lung foundation (no. 20200385), and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (grants to Science for Life Laboratory, 2020.0182). AMFC is supported by Central ALF-funding, Region Västerbotten (RV-836351), Base unit ALF-funding (RV-939769); Strategic Funding during 2020 from the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University; and The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS)