Objective: To determine whether a two months treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or Lopinavir / ritonavir (LPV / r) reduces the incidence of symptomatic or asymptomatic infections with SARS-CoV-2, compared to their placebo, in healthcare professionals exposed to the virus.
In the absence of specific antiviral treatment, particular attention must be paid to prevention. Individual protective equipment can be insufficiently protective, including for healthcare professionals. If this trial confirms the efficacy of either drug, a chemoprophylaxis strategy could be extended to other populations highly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or at risk of severe forms of Covid-19 while waiting for other preventive tools, vaccines in particular, to become available.
News on May 27, 2020
In accordance with the decision of the French Agency for the Safety of Health Products (Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament et des Produits de Santé or ANSM) about the first part of the Covidaxis trial, the inclusions of participants in the study are suspended and the treatments are stopped.
The independent trial follow-up committee did not observe any signal of toxicity in the trial participants as of 05.28.2020.