Bezisterim may help with some Long COVID symptoms, drug’s developer reports in early trial results

BioVie, the developer of a novel drug called bezisterim, has shared early results from a phase 2 clinical trial showing the potential for the drug to alleviate symptoms of Long COVID, such as fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and neurological issues. While the trial's findings require further analysis and peer-review, they are among the most promising results reported thus far for Long COVID, according to the study's expert advisors.

The phase 2 trial, named ADDRESS-LC, involved 203 participants who took the oral drug or a placebo for three months. The investigators designed the trial as a "proof-of-concept" study, evaluating 22 different metrics to measure bezisterim's impact. The data showed a clear direction toward improving key symptoms, providing hope for the community as previous trials had failed.

BioVie plans to use these results to inform a larger, phase 3 study and seek accelerated FDA approval. The company aims to include more severe Long COVID patients in this trial, possibly with a decentralized arm allowing remote participation.