Living meta-analysis and evidence synthesis of therapies for COVID-19

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Hung et al., 2020 NCT04276688

lopinavir/ritonavir, ribavirin and interferon beta-1b (n=86) vs. lopinavir/ritonavir (n=41)

randomized controlled trial   some concerns about risk of bias

Studied treatment

Interferon beta-1b, lopinavir–ritonavir, and ribavirin
14-day combination of lopinavir 400 mg and ritonavir 100 mg every 12 h, ribavirin 400 mg every 12 h, and three doses of 8 million international units of interferon beta-1b on alternate days

Control treatment

lopinavir–ritonavir
14 days of lopinavir 400 mg and ritonavir 100 mg every 12 h

Patients

COVID-19 mild to moderate

age at least 18 years, a national early warning score 2 (NEWS2) of at least 1, and symptom duration of 14 days or less upon recruitment

Method

Open-label.

Hong Kong, 6 centers

phase 2, intention-to-treat population

Remark

there is a discrepancy between the main objective of the study mentioned in clinicaltrials.gov which refers to mortality and the main endpoint presented in the publication. The sample size calculation also refers to mortality. However, at the date of initial registration (Feb. 19), the primary endpoint was already PCR-negative conversion, which allows to rule out result-driven change.