Boston hospital enrolls patients for Long COVID study: ‘Hopefully we can get some answers’

As millions of people across the country continue to suffer from long COVID, a Boston hospital is launching phase 2 clinical trials to test potential treatments for the debilitating condition.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital is the first site to enroll and begin phase 2 clinical trials for the National Institutes of Health “Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery” (RECOVER) Initiative.

The phase 2 clinical trials will evaluate at least four potential treatments for long COVID, with additional clinical trials to test seven more treatments in the coming months. Treatments will include drugs, biologics, medical devices and other therapies.

“Long COVID is a real bear, and a lot of our patients are suffering from this complicated condition,” Lindsey Baden, VP of clinical research at the Brigham, told the Herald on Tuesday.

“We’re hoping we can enroll this quickly,” Baden added. “Hopefully we can get some answers, so we know how to treat our patients better.”

RECOVER is a large, nationwide research program designed to understand, treat and prevent long COVID, which is marked by long-term symptoms following a COVID infection.

These clinical trials are focusing on viral persistence and cognitive dysfunction.

RECOVER-VITAL will study viral persistence, which could occur if the virus stays in the body and causes the immune system to not function properly or causes damage to organs. The first intervention will test a longer dose regimen of the antiviral Paxlovid than is used for treating acute COVID to see if it improves the symptoms of patients with long COVID.

RECOVER-NEURO will examine interventions for cognitive dysfunction related to long COVID, including brain fog, memory problems, as well as difficulty with attention, thinking clearly, and problem-solving. Interventions under this protocol will include a series of web-based brain training programs that have been used to improve cognitive function and help brain activity and blood flow.

“Over the past year, efforts have largely been focused on observational studies to understand the symptoms of long COVID and associated underlying pathobiology. We are now pleased to begin the next phase in this process and launch clinical trials to treat patients with significant symptoms associated with long COVID,” Baden said.

The Brigham is looking to enroll dozens of patients for the clinical trials. Brigham and Women’s Hospital will be partnering with local communities to raise awareness about long COVID and offer opportunities to participate in the RECOVER clinical trials.

Those interested in learning more about enrolling in the RECOVER clinical trial should visit www.recovercovid.org.