Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42117493›Full record

Trial reportEuropean journal of haematology2026

Phase IIB, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Intravenous Defibrotide for the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Distress and Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19.

Ruben Jara Rubio, Antonio José Martinez-Mellado, Jonathan Kiwitt-Cárdenas, José G Clavel, Bartolomé García-Perez, Pedro Castro, Maribel Diaz-Ricart, Andrés Carrillo-Alcaraz, Amparo López-Bernús, Enrique Bernal Morell and 29 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialClinical Trial, Phase II
In one paragraph

Trial report in European journal of haematology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04348383 (Phase IIb Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized, Parallel, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate Defibrotide Intravenous Infusion in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Respiratory Distress and Cytokine Release Syndrome), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04348383 phase2completednot on this map

Phase IIb Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized, Parallel, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate Defibrotide Intravenous Infusion in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 Respiratory Distress and Cytokine Release Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorFundacion para la Formacion e Investigacion Sanitarias de la Region de MurciaRan2020 to 2023Enrolled156ConditionsCOVID19ArmsDefibrotide, Placebo
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

39 authors.

Ruben Jara RubioIntensive Care Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Antonio José Martinez-MelladoHematology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Jonathan Kiwitt-CárdenasPreventive Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
José G ClavelDepartment of Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5800-319X
Bartolomé García-PerezInternal Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Pedro CastroMedical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Maribel Diaz-RicartHematopathology, Pathology Department, Centre of Biomedical Diagnosis (CDB), Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Andrés Carrillo-AlcarazIntensive Care Service, University Hospital Morales Meseguer, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Amparo López-BernúsInternal Medicine Department, University Clinical Hospital, Salamanca, Spain.
Enrique Bernal MorellInfectious Disease Department, University Hospital Reina Sofia, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Aychel RouraInfectious Disease Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Sonia MarínInfectious Disease Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5924-2196
Francisco-José Ruiz-LópezPulmonology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Elena Solana-MartinezPulmonology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Domingo Martinez-BañoIntensive Care Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Carlos L Albacete MorenoIntensive Care Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Enriqueta Andreu SolerIntensive Care Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Adrián Tellez SantoyoMedical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Sara Fernández MéndezMedical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jose A Noguera VelascoClinical Laboratory Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Iria Cebreiros LopezClinical Laboratory Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Andrés ParrillaImage Diagnostic Service, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain.
Alberto Espuny-MiróPharmacy Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
David García-BernalHematopoietic Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6610-8442
Miguel BlanquerHematology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Andrés Sánchez-SalinasHematology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Francisca IniestaHematopoietic Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Cristina Hernandez GarciaHematopoietic Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Manuel MuroImmunology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Murcia, Spain.
Alfredo Minguela PurasImmunology Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, Murcia, Spain.
Antonio Moreno-DocónVirology Laboratory, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Alberto M Torres-CanteroPreventive Medicine Department, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Maria Munoz GarciaIMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Manuel SerranoInternal Medicine Department, Hospital La Laguna, Madrid, Spain.
Massimo IacobelliTechitra S.R.L., Milan, Italy.
Carmelo Carlo-StellaDepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy.
Lee-Jen WeiDepartment of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8582-920X
Paul G RichardsonDepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jerome Lipper Center for Multiple Myeloma Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7426-8865
José M MoraledaHematopoietic Transplant and Cellular Therapy Unit, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9080-1466

Funding

Fundación Seneca 22905/EE/25Instituto de Salud Carlos III COV20/00399Jazz Pharmaceuticals IST-20-11291Paula and Rodger Riney Multiple Myeloma Research Fund
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionEndothelial dysfunction is key in COVID-19 pathogenesis. This randomized, double-blind phase IIb trial investigated continuous intravenous infusion of defibrotide in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection and respiratory failure.

methodsOne-hundred and fifty patients were randomized (2:1) to defibrotide or placebo, stratified by disease severity (WHO COVID-19 severity scale 4/5 vs. 6). The primary endpoint was clinical improvement time (days from first improvement through Day 30).

resultsMedian clinical improvement time was not significantly different with defibrotide versus placebo (15.0 [IQR: 0-24] vs. 20.0 [IQR: 9-25] days; p = 0.10). Day-30 (23.0% vs. 22.0%) and Day-60 (26.0% vs. 22.0%) mortality, reduction in mean fraction of inspired oxygen during treatment, and median duration of hospitalization did not differ with defibrotide versus placebo. Defibrotide demonstrated favorable safety, with no differences versus placebo in serious adverse events (34.0% vs. 36.0%), hypotension (16.0% vs. 12.0%), or hemorrhage (13.0% vs. 8.0%). Exploratory pre-specified biomarker analyses showed greater early d-dimer reduction and lymphocyte recovery with defibrotide, although these results require validation.

conclusionContinuous intravenous infusion of defibrotide was safe but did not improve clinical outcomes in severe COVID-19. Further analyses will explore mechanistic actions and pharmacokinetics of defibrotide and the pathophysiology of endothelial dysfunction in COVID-19.

trial registrationEudraCT identifier: 2020-001409-21. CLINICALTRIALS: gov identifier: NCT04348383.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentCytokine Release SyndromeFibrinolytic AgentsPolydeoxyribonucleotidesRespiratory Distress SyndromeAdultAgedDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansInfusions, IntravenousMaleMiddle AgedSARS-CoV-2Treatment OutcomedefibrotideFibrinolytic AgentsPolydeoxyribonucleotidesbiomarkersbloodcoagulationCOVID‐19endotheliumhypoxiainflammation mediatorslength of stayrespiratory distress syndromerespiratory insufficiency

Identifiers

PMID42117493
PMCPMC13542937

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.