Phase I/II Trial of Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) Nasal Swab For Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Healthy Subjects
Phase I/II Trial of Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) Nasal Swab For Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Healthy Subjects
Title: Phase I/II Trial (Safety and Dosing) of Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) Nasal Swab For
 Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Healthy Subjects:

 Summary: This study will evaluate in a PH I/II trial in healthy volunteers the safety and
 tolerability of PVP-I nasal swabs daily application. The intent is to follow with a PH III
 randomized controlled clinical trial to assess the capacity for PVP-I nasal swabs to mitigate
 the transmission of respiratory viruses specifically COVID 19.
Specific Aim 1: Evaluate toxicity and tolerability of PVP-I nasal swabs Specific Aim 2:
 Investigate the dosing of PVP-I nasal swabs.

 Hypothesis 1: PVP-I nasal swabs have a low toxicity, low side effect profile, and high
 tolerability with daily use.

 Hypothesis 2: Twice a day dosing for six weeks will prove safe in this subject population.

 Healthy volunteers living in the Boston area between the ages of 18 and 70 years old will be
 recruited for participation in this study.

 Consenting subjects will undergo baseline testing to confirm participants eligibility for
 this trial. As mentioned above, the target for enrollment is 50 subjects, so it is
 anticipated that approximately 75 subjects will be recruited, consented, and screened/tested,
 with about 25 of those subjects being either ineligible after testing or unable to complete
 the full 12 weeks of the trial. Subjects will apply 3M's PVP-I nasal swabs either once
 (control group) or twice (treatment group) per day, depending on the group that participants
 are randomized into. Subjects will apply the nasal swabs daily for six weeks with weekly
 symptom assessments and testing. After subjects cease nasal swab application, participants
 will return after another six weeks (i.e. 12 weeks after participants first nasal swab
 application) for a final round of testing and symptom assessment. Subjects will not need to
 pay for any nasal swabs or visits during this trial - all study-related items and visits will
 be covered by the sponsor. Subjects will also be remunerated with up to 100 dollars in gift
 certificates if participants complete the study and attend the check-ins (50 dollar
 certificate for completing baseline visit and 50 dollar certificate for coming in at 12
 weeks).

 Baseline screening will assess the overall health of the subject, confirm that participants
 have no underlying cardiac or thyroid conditions, participants are not pregnant (serum hCG
 testing will confirm this) nor intend to conceive during the course of this trial, and that
 participants are not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. coughing, fever, shortness
 of breath). Further, testing will include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid
 peroxidase (TPO) antibody, serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; to test for pregnancy),
 urine iodine, and COVID-19 mRNA (for the presence of an active virus) and antibody (as
 evidence for previous COVID-19 infection). Some of these tests will be administered weekly,
 at baseline only, at six weeks, or at 12 weeks. All research-related phlebotomy for this
 study will take place at BWH clinical research phlebotomy labs, such as the Clinical Trials
 Hub at 60 Fenwood Road or the Clinical Trials Center at 15 Francis Street. Again, all tests
 are covered by study funding and subjects will never be charged for them.

 Once subjects' test results are returned and participants are deemed eligible for the study,
 participants will meet with the investigator in a clinical exam room (with masks and 6 feet
 social distance), and the investigator will demonstrate how to apply the nasal swabs so that
 the subject can continue to apply the swabs by themselves for the duration of the study. The
 investigator will assure that the subject has learned how to apply the nasal swab correctly
 and safely and that the subject understands the importance of daily, regimented application.
 Alternatively, if the subject would prefer to minimize in-person contact with others,
 participants can obtain the study drug from the investigator or study staff and learn how to
 apply the swabs through a Zoom meeting. Further, a video detailing these instructions will be
 sent to subjects with detailed application instructions.

 Subjects will also be given a questionnaire to fill out at each weekly check-in, which will
 assess any side effects participants may be experiencing related to this drug (questionnaire
 is attached to this IRB submission on Insight). Questions will be focused on symptoms of
 hyperthyroidism (e.g. palpitations, tremulousness, weight loss, irritability) and
 hypothyroidism (e.g. fatigue, weight gain, sluggishness, hair loss). Subjects will also be
 informed at the time of enrollment that if participants start experiencing any troubling side
 effects, participants should stop applying swabs and alert study staff or an investigator of
 these side effects as soon as participants can. If this happens, or if a subject's test
 results reveal markers that are outside of reference ranges, participants will be withdrawn
 from the study and investigators will explain why participants are being withdrawn.
 Investigators will closely monitor the safety of patients and alert the FDA and the BWH IRB
 if any adverse events occur. However, given the proven safety of PVP-I and the weekly testing
 and assessments the investigators are conducting, the investigators do not anticipate that
 any adverse events will occur.

 The overall study, from initiation and patient recruitment to data analysis and synthesis of
 a detailed report is anticipated to take six months.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Healthy volunteers from the Boston community

 2. 18-70 years of age

 3. In good health, without thyroid or cardiac disease, without symptoms of COVID-19*

 4. Normal baseline TSH

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. History of thyroid or cardiac disease

 2. Current BWH employee

 3. Allergy or hypersensitivity to iodine

 4. Positive COVID-19 mRNA or antibody test

 5. Participation in any other investigational study or drug trial in which receipt of an
 investigational study drug occurred within 30 days prior to enrollment in this study

 6. Women who are pregnant or attempting to conceive

 7. Men who are attempting to conceive with their partner