Anti-androgens are a proposed COVID-19 therapeutic. Anti-androgens are drugs that either block the binding of ligands at the androgen receptor (e.g. bicalutamide) or block the production of androgens in the body (e.g. dutasteride).
Possible mechanism of benefit in COVID-19
Add here. TMPRSS2 is proposed.
Overview articles on potential mechanisms
- The role of androgens in COVID-19
- Androgen sensitivity in COVID‐19 and antiandrogens: Prospective data are still needed
- Estrogen and Androgen Receptor Inhibitors: Unexpected Allies in the Fight Against COVID-19
Clinical trial results
N=588 double-blind, randomized controlled trial of proxalutamide in Brazil reported a > 90% reduction in mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in an early press release:
The preliminary analysis conducted on March 9, 2021 was based on 294 patients (56.8% male) inthe Proxalutamide arm and 296 patients (57.8% male) in the control arm. According to the results on day 14, the mortality in Proxalutamide arm was 11(3.7%), compared to 141 (47.6%) in control arm, demonstrating a reduced mortality risk of 92%. The number of new mechanical ventilation (MV) and/ordeath in Proxalutamide arm was 13 (4.4%), compared to 156 (52.7%) in control arm, reducing mortality risk by 92%; and median hospital length stay (days) in Proxalutamide arm was 5, while it was 14 in control arm, which means Proxalutamide shortened hospital stay by 9 days.
Observational studies
List of clinical trials
- Enzalutamide Treatment in COVID-19 (COVIDENZA)
- Randomized Open Label Phase II Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Enzalutamide in High Risk Male Outpatients With COVID-19
- EAT-DUTA AndroCoV Trial
- Bicalutamide to Block TMPRSS2 in Males With COVID-19 Infection
- Camostat With Bicalutamide for COVID-19 (COMBO)
- Proxalutamide Treatment for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
- Anti-Androgen Treatment for COVID-19