A new clinical trial, the second of three planned for early 2025, aims to provide effective treatments for the estimated 65 million people suffering from long COVID worldwide.

SILC, a nonprofit organization founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2023, is funding and guiding this trial as part of a broader effort to address long COVID.

Canada is one of six countries participating in these clinical trials, which aim to determine whether existing anti-inflammatory drugs can effectively treat long COVID.

Dr. Douglas Fraser from Western University emphasizes the importance of this global study to address the diverse symptoms of long COVID influenced by geographical factors.

Conducted by scientists from Western University and the Schmidt Initiative for Long COVID (SILC), the trial will take place at seven sites across Canada, the U.S., Brazil, Italy, Uganda, and Zambia.

Participants will be divided into groups receiving either the test drugs or placebos, with the option to discontinue placebo use if the drugs demonstrate significant effectiveness.

More than 300 long COVID patients will be enrolled, focusing on five key symptoms: fatigue, breathing issues, cognitive problems, muscle and joint aches, and circulation issues.

The effectiveness of the drugs will be monitored over a six-month period, with the first three months assessing symptom severity and the subsequent three months for further evaluation.

The trial employs an adaptive platform, similar to methods used during Operation Warp Speed, allowing for adjustments based on the drugs' performance.

This global initiative will test two existing anti-inflammatory drugs, upadacitinib and pirfenidone, which have previously been approved for treating arthritis and lung disease.

Utilizing a Phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-arm platform methodology, the trial allows researchers to adapt the study based on ongoing results.

Dr. John Redd, CEO of SILC, highlighted that drug repurposing could expedite the availability of effective treatments for long COVID patients globally.