Study: Diabetes Drug Metformin May Help Prevent Long COVID

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have made a promising discovery that could help prevent long COVID. Their latest study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, reveals that Metformin—a popular diabetes medication—might stop the development of long COVID. This condition, which affects up to 10% of COVID-19 survivors, can significantly impact daily life. The findings are particularly exciting because this medication is not only effective but also safe and easily accessible when you want to buy Metformin online Canada, offering a potential significant boost to public health efforts.

Metformin in COVID-19 Treatment

Following the urgent need for COVID-19 treatments at the pandemic’s onset, researchers turned to repurposing existing medications as a quicker alternative to developing new drugs. Metformin, a well-known diabetes drug, emerged as a key candidate. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences or NCATS has played a crucial role in exploring Metformin’s potential, guiding it through every phase—from initial studies to extensive clinical trials. 

Now, under the ACTIV-6 clinical trial by the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) partnership and supervised by NCATS, Metformin is being tested as a treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 cases in outpatient settings. This trial is crucial, as it may determine how effective Metformin is in treating COVID-19 and possibly in preventing long COVID. Dr. Joni L. 

Rutter, the Director of NCATS, emphasized the importance of using their networks and data-driven tools to rapidly deliver crucial insights on Metformin’s capabilities in managing both acute and long-term COVID-19 symptoms. This approach not only aids current studies but also sets a precedent for combining clinical trial data with real-world evidence to streamline future research.

Can A Diabetes Drug Reduce the Risk of Long COVID?

This medication is traditionally used to treat type 2 diabetes, and it does much more than control blood sugar. It also reduces inflammation and prevents blood clots by targeting specific molecules involved in these processes. Since inflammation and conditions like diabetes and obesity increase the severity of COVID-19, Metformin could play a crucial role. Interestingly, research also suggests that Metformin might stop the COVID-19 virus from multiplying in the body. 

Given these benefits, scientists are considering a new role for Metformin beyond diabetes care. Could this affordable and safe drug be the key to combating COVID-19 effectively? 

For Metformin to be officially recommended for treating COVID-19, it needs to succeed in rigorous trials that are specifically designed to test its effectiveness. The TOGETHER and COVID-OUT trials are set to give Metformin this opportunity, potentially confirming its role as an effective treatment against COVID-19.

TOGETHER Trial: The First Clinical Test

The TOGETHER trial marked Metformin’s debut in a large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study, testing its effectiveness against COVID-19. However, the results didn’t clearly support Metformin as a game-changer for treating the virus. Conducted in Brazil, the trial focused on high-risk adults from low- and middle-income countries. Participants or subjects were randomly assigned to receive either Metformin or a placebo as part of their outpatient treatment. Those on Metformin took a 750 mg dose twice daily, totaling 1,500 mg, over 10 days.

Despite high hopes, the trial’s findings were less than encouraging. Out of 418 participants in the Metformin group, the drug didn’t significantly outperform the placebo in reducing hospitalizations or improving clinical outcomes after 28 days. However, it’s worth noting that some data from the study’s appendix suggested that Metformin might have some advantages over the placebo among those who completed the full 10-day dosing regimen.

COVID-OUT Trial: A New Perspective on Metformin

After the TOGETHER trial, the COVID-OUT trial offered Metformin another opportunity to prove its effectiveness in combating COVID-19. Led by Dr. Carolyn Bramante and her team across six U.S. sites, this study was supported by grants from NCATS and additional help from the University of Minnesota’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

The trial involved participants aged 30 to 85 who were overweight or obese and had just been diagnosed with COVID-19. The primary aim was to assess how many participants developed severe COVID-19 after 14 days of outpatient treatment, with severity defined by criteria such as low blood oxygen levels, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or death. Unlike the earlier TOGETHER trial, COVID-OUT tested Metformin in combination with fluvoxamine, ivermectin, or a placebo. The Metformin dosage started lower than in TOGETHER and gradually increased to 1,500 mg daily over six days, continuing at this level for the duration of the treatment.

The findings initially mirrored those of TOGETHER, showing that Metformin, along with the other drugs tested, didn’t significantly reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 compared to a placebo. However, the perspective shifted dramatically when the team reconsidered how they defined “severe” COVID-19. Following an FDA advisory about the accuracy of home-measured oxygen levels by pulse oximeters, the researchers excluded these measurements from their criteria.

With this adjustment, the results were strikingly different. Participants taking Metformin were 42% less likely to need emergency care, be hospitalized, or die. The numbers were even more encouraging when focusing solely on hospitalization and death, with a 53% reduction in these outcomes among those who took Metformin.

ACTIV-6 Could Bring Greater Clarity

Building on the insights from the TOGETHER and COVID-OUT trials, the ACTIV-6 trial aims to provide further clarity on Metformin’s effectiveness in treating mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in outpatient settings.

This phase 3 clinical trial, a collaboration between public and private partners, has already tested several medications, including fluticasone, fluvoxamine, and ivermectin, without significant therapeutic benefits compared to a placebo. The trial is now enrolling participants for the Metformin arm, which began in September 2023. Overseen by NCATS and involving CTSA Program-funded institutions, the trial’s goal is to assess the time to recovery from COVID-19 symptoms and the rates of hospitalization or death among participants. 

Additionally, researchers will examine whether Metformin can reduce urgent care and emergency department visits and its effects on participants’ quality of life, measured up to six months after treatment begins. The extended follow-up will also explore any potential links between Metformin treatment and symptoms of long COVID. You can search for a trusted place to order drugs from Canada safely at very affordable prices.

Conclusion

The research surrounding Metformin’s potential in treating and preventing long COVID is both promising and evolving. While early studies suggested benefits, large-scale clinical trials like TOGETHER and COVID-OUT have provided mixed results. The ACTIV-6 trial represents the next step in clarifying Metformin’s role in COVID treatment, particularly in outpatient settings. As scientists continue to investigate Metformin’s impact, there is hope that it could play a significant role in managing both acute and long-term effects of COVID-19.