Does nafamostat reduce death in COVID-19 patients? Study sheds light

The study led to the following findings:

• Of 647 patients screened in 21 hospitals (15 in Australia, 4 in New Zealand, and 2 in Nepal), 160 participants were enrolled from May 2021 to August 2022.
• In the intention-to-treat population, the primary endpoint occurred in 11% of 73 patients with usual care and 5% of 82 with nafamostat.
• The median adjusted odds ratio for the primary endpoint for nafamostat was 0.40 with a posterior probability of effectiveness (adjusted odds ratio <1.0) of 93%.
• For usual care compared with nafamostat, hyperkalemia occurred in 1% of 67 and 9% of 78 participants, respectively, and clinically relevant bleeding occurred in 1% of 73 and 8% of 82 participants.

"There was a 93% posterior probability that nafamostat reduced the odds of death or organ support in hospitalized patients with COVID-19," the researchers wrote. "Prespecified stopping criteria were not met, precluding definitive conclusions."

Bleeding and hyperkalemia were more common with nafamostat.

Reference:

The study titled, "A Randomized Trial of Nafamostat for Covid-19," was published in NEJM Evidence. DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2300132