Principal Investigators: Joseph Vinetz, MD (Yale University), Geoffrey Chupp, MD, (Yale University)

Co-Investigators: Anne Spichler, MD, PhD (Yale University), Kailash Patra, PhD (Yale University), Aryeh Salovey, (Yale University), Alan Marroquin (Yale University), Reetika Chaurasia (Yale University)

Description: 

• Recent work has established that the TMPRSS2 enzyme is both necessary and sufficient for infection of human host cells by SARS-CoV-2.  Preliminary studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection can be prevented in cells by the TMRPSS2 inhibitors, camostat and nafamostat.
• TMRPSS2 is a protein originally identified and studied in prostate cells, which has a significant role in prostate cancer initiation and progression.  This connection between prostate cancer and COVID-19 has resulted in a rapid and impactful shift of cancer researchers to focus on identifying solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Dr. Joseph Vinetz and team are conducting a clinical trial to test camostat mesylate, a TMPRSS2 inhibitor used for the treatment of pancreatitis in Japan, in patients who have recently tested positive for SARS-CoV2 infection. This drug has a strongly favorable safety record, and the FDA has approved the study.
• This two-stage trial will first test whether camostat reduces viral load in patients compared to placebo, and will then determine the impact of camostat vs. placebo on clinical outcomes including progression of disease symptoms, oxygenation and hospitalization.
• Dr. Vinetz and team will also perform correlative studies to evaluate the immune system biology of patients treated with camostat, and to confirm the impact of camostat on TMPRSS2 levels in patient samples.
• If successful, this project will result in a new effective treatment for preventing disease progression and poor outcomes in patients infected with SARS-CoV2.

What this means to patients:  Dr. Vinetz is conducting a clinical trial to test the efficacy of camostat, a TMPRSS2 inhibitor, on preventing disease progression and poor outcomes in patients that recently tested positive for SARS-CoV2 infection.  This approach, which harnesses an available drug with known safety data, and biological knowledge derived from prostate cancer research, may result in an effective new treatment for COVID-19.