Home | University of Minnesota COVID-19 Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Clinical Trial

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for Coronavirus

The University of Minnesota, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University and Oregon Health and Science University, is conducting a research study to determine if taking a medication called hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can help in preventing COVID-19 disease (commonly referred to as coronavirus).

Why are doing this study?

The University of Minnesota is conducting a research study to determine if taking a medication hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) can help prevent COVID-19. There is an optional sub study testing Covid-19 antibodies at enrollment and at the end of the study.

We want to find out:

If hydroxychloroquine can prevent COVID-19
What proportion of healthcare workers have positive antibodies at the time they enroll
What proportion of healthcare workers develop positive antibodies by the end of the study

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for participants who are healthcare workers in settings that are high risk for exposure to COVID-19:

Persons primarily working in emergency departments (physicians, nurses, physician assistants, ancillary staff, triage personnel)
Persons primarily working in intensive care units (physicians, nurses, ancillary staff, respiratory therapists)
Persons primarily working in urgent care centers or clinics (physicians, nurses, physician assistants)
Persons primarily working in congregate care facilities (long-term care facilities, nursing homes, group homes)
Persons performing aerosol generating procedures (ex. anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists (CRNAs))
First responders (ex: EMTs, paramedics)

Want to participate? Learn more about the trial.

ENROLL

Why hydroxychloroquine?

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are FDA-approved medicines that have been used to prevent and treat malaria since the 1950s. Recent work shows that hydroxychloroquine (also known as Plaquenil) may be more active than chloroquine against the current SARS-CoV-2 virus.

In laboratory, researchers have identified two medicines, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, as having activity against SARS-coronaviruses. The images below show SARS-CoV-1 virus as fluorescent green. As increased doses of chloroquine are added (left to right) the amount of virus (in green) decreases.

Images from Vincent et al. Virology Journal 2005; doi:10.1186/1743-422X-2-69

No clinical trials have been completed to determine if this medicine is effective in preventing COVID-19 disease in humans. Current trials in China and France are testing chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for those sick with COVID-19 disease in the hospital. With the growing coronavirus outbreak in the United States and worldwide, there is a need for new preventive measures for people exposed to the coronavirus.