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Cited by 101COVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchLong-Term Effects of COVID-19

Repurposing chlorpromazine to treat COVID-19: the reCoVery study

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Plaze, M., Attali, D., Petit, A.-C., Blatzer, M., Simon-Loriere, E., Vinckier, F., Cachia, A., Chrétien, F. +1 more·2020·L'Encéphale
DOI 10.1016/j.encep.2020.05.006PMC PMC7229964
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Abstract

Objectives The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused approximately 2,350,000 infections worldwide and killed more than 160,000 individuals. In Sainte-Anne Hospital (GHU PARIS Psychiatrie & Neuroscience, Paris, France) we have observed a lower incidence of symptomatic forms of COVID-19 among patients than among our clinical staff. This observation led us to hypothesize that psychotropic drugs could have a prophylactic action against SARS-CoV-2 and protect patients from the symptomatic and virulent forms of this infection, since several of these psychotropic drugs have documented antiviral properties. Chlorpromazine (CPZ), a phenothiazine derivative, is also known for its antiviral activity via the inhibition of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Recentin vitro studies have reported that CPZ exhibits anti-MERS-CoV and anti-SARS-CoV-1 activity.Methods In this context, the ReCoVery study aims to repurpose CPZ, a molecule with an excellent tolerance profile and a very high biodistribution in the saliva, lungs and brain. We hypothesize that CPZ could reduce the unfavorable course of COVID-19 infection among patients requiring respiratory support without the need for ICU care, and that it could also reduce the contagiousness of SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, we plan a pilot, multicenter, randomized, single blind, controlled, phase III therapeutic trial (standard treatment vs. CPZ+standard treatment).Conclusion This repurposing of CPZ for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity could offer an alternative, rapid strategy to alleviate infection severity. This repurposing strategy also avoids numerous developmental and experimental steps, and could save precious time to rapidly establish an anti-COVID-19 therapy with well-known, limited and easily managed side effects.

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  • In an observational study, chlorpromazine seemingly lowered the incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 in psychiatric patients compared with caregivers.

    “Chlorpromazine in an observational study seemingly lowered incidence of symptomatic forms of COVID-19 in psychiatric patients versus caregivers [51].”

    From Overview of sleep management during COVID-19. (2022) · cites this paper as [51]

    The Introduction reports a lower incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 among psychiatric patients (about 4%) than among healthcare staff in the same wards (about 14%). It presents a protective effect of psychotropic treatments as a hypothesis, however, and does not establish that chlorpromazine specifically lowered the incidence. (LLM, conf=0.89)

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Authors
Plaze, M., Attali, D., Petit, A.-C., Blatzer, M., Simon-Loriere, E., Vinckier, F., Cachia, A., Chrétien, F., & Gaillard, R.
Affiliations
  • Université Paris Cité (FR)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Institut Pasteur (FR)
Corresponding author
Plaze, M.
ORCID
Venue
L'Encéphale
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-06
Volume
46
Issue
3
Pages
169-172
ISSN
0013-7006 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.encep.2020.05.006
PMC
PMC7229964
OpenAlex
W3025103607
Cited by
101
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 19
FWCI
3.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • L Encéphale (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Keywords
chlorpromazine, COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, drug repurposing, antiviral activity, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, phenothiazines, psychotropic drugs, prophylaxis, respiratory support, transmission reduction, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Antiviral Agents, Anxiety, Blood-Brain Barrier, Chlorpromazine, Dyspnea, Endocytosis, France, Humans, Length of Stay, Mortality, Pilot Projects, Pneumonia, Viral, Single-Blind Method, Treatment Outcome, Coronavirus Infections, Disease Progression, Recovery of Function, Clathrin-Coated Vesicles, Drug Repositioning, Pandemics, Time-to-Treatment, Patient Outcome Assessment

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