Abstract
Despite intensive efforts, there is no effective remedy for COVID-19. Moreover, vaccination efficacy declines over time and may be compromised against new SARS-CoV-2 lineages. Therefore, there remains an unmet need for simple, accessible, low-cost and effective pharmacological anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. ArtemiC is a medical product comprising artemisinin, curcumin, frankincense and vitamin C, all of which possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The present Phase II placebo-controlled, double-blinded, multi-centred, prospective study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ArtemiC in patients with COVID-19. The study included 50 hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients randomized (2:1) to receive ArtemiC or placebo oral spray, twice daily on Days 1 and 2, beside standard care. A physical examination was performed, and vital signs and blood tests were monitored daily until hospital discharge (or Day 15). A PCR assessment of SARS-CoV-2 carriage was performed at screening and on last visit. ArtemiC improved NEWS2 in 91% of patients and shortened durations of abnormal SpO 2 levels, oxygen supplementation and fever. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. These findings suggest that ArtemiC curbed deterioration, possibly by limiting cytokine storm of COVID-19, thus bearing great promise for COVID-19 patients, particularly those with comorbidities.
Keywords: ArtemiC; COVID-19; Vitamin C; artemisinin; curcumin.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Vitamin C, Artemisinin, ArtemiC, curcumin., 【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, Cytokine storm, Hospitalized, Anti-inflammatory, Prospective Study, anti-SARS-CoV-2, Randomized, Deterioration, Physical examination, PCR, symptomatic, Fever, adverse event, Patient, Efficacy and safety, Placebo, Vitamin, vital sign, lineages, Intensive, placebo-controlled, COVID-19 patients, blood test, phase, COVID-19 patient, Decline, unmet need, NEWS2, standard care, double-blinded, vaccination efficacy, hospital discharge, oxygen supplementation, pharmacological, effective, new SARS-CoV-2, reported, evaluated, Day, was performed, receive, patients with COVID-19, those with comorbidities, 【제목키워드】 Prospective Study, Patient, phase, Effect,