Exploring Current ME/CFS and Long COVID Clinical Trials on National Clinical Trials Day, May 20 2025, Solve ME.

https://solvecfs.org/exploring-curr...nical-trials-on-national-clinical-trials-day/

May 20 is National Clinical Trials Day!

When conducting clinical trials, researchers test how interventions (like behavioral changes, drugs, or medical devices) affect people. Usually, researchers carefully choose who takes part in these clinical trials to make sure that participants are safe and that trials produce useful information.

Participating in clinical trials is one of the most powerful ways to contribute to medical progress. By joining a trial, you help researchers better understand complex conditions like ME/CFS and Long Covid, paving the way for new treatments, improved diagnostics, and greater public awareness. Every participant adds valuable data that brings science one step closer to real solutions—and offers hope to millions living with these often misunderstood illnesses.

Here are some clinical trials we’re watching (sorted by intervention).

Ampligen

AIM ImmunoTech Inc. is heading the clinical trial Ampligen in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Watch our webinar, “Ampligen: A General Overview and the Plan for ME/CFS & Long Covid,” here.

Baricitinib

Dr. Wesley Ely (Vanderbilt University Medical Center) is leading the Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial EValuating Baricitinib on PERSistent NEurologic and Cardiopulmonary Symptoms of Long COVID (REVERSE-LC) trial. This trial will test whether the drug baricitinib improves neurocognitive function and other functions severely diminished by Long Covid.

Bezisterim

BioVie Inc. is conducting the clinical trial NE3107 in Adults with Neurological Symptoms of Long COVID (ADDRESS-LC), which is determining whether the investigational drug bezisterim (NE3107) reduces brain fog and fatigue in people with Long Covid. More information is available on the trial website, and stay tuned for details about our upcoming ADDRESS-LC trial webinar.

Enhanced external counterpulsation

Dr. Dana Yelin (Solve Ramsay Research Grant awardee at the Sheba Medical Center) is heading the Enhanced External Counterpulsation to Treat Long COVID-19 Fatigue (EXPECT) clinical trial. This trial is testing whether using inflatable cuffs (to help circulate blood) reduces fatigue and improves quality of life for people with Long Covid.

Hydrogen-rich water

Dr. Fred Friedberg (Stony Brook University School of Medicine) is heading the Hydrogen Water Dosing Study for ME/CFS to test whether hydrogen-rich water reduces fatigue and stress and improves physical functions for people with ME/CFS. Solve has supported this study by helping to recruit participants. Watch our webinar about the study here.

Low-dose Naltrexone

Dr. David Systrom (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) is heading the Life Improvement Trial (LIFT), which will determine whether low-dose naltrexone and pyridostigmine reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people with ME/CFS.

And for people with Long Covid, Dr. Luid Nacul (University of British Columbia) is heading the clinical trial Low-dose Naltrexone for Post-COVID Fatigue Syndrome.

Putrino trials

Dr. David Putrino (Abilities Research Center at the Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine) is recruiting for four clinical trials on ME/CFS and Long Covid:

• Lumbrokinase for Adults With Long Covid, Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Low Dose Sirolimus in People With Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) Long COVID-19
• Antiviral Clinical Trial for Long Covid-19
• Humanity Neurotech Device Clinical Trial in Adults With Long COVID Cognitive Dysfunction

Solve supported these studies by presenting them to patient communities and by helping to recruit participants.

Dr. Putrino recently joined us to discuss collaborating with patients to develop clinical trials in our webinar, “Severe ME/CFS Research: Removing Barriers to Access,” which you can watch here. You can also watch our webinar with Dr. Putrino, “Comparing Immunological Signatures Between Long Covid and ME/CFS,” here.

Rapamycin

The Simmaron Research Institute (alongside the Bateman Horne Center, the CDC, and the Mayo Clinic) is conducting the clinical trial Low Dose Rapamycin in ME/CFS, Long Covid, or Other Infection-Associated Chronic Conditions. Solve has supported this trial by helping recruit participants.

Wearable devices

Dr. Julia Moore Vogel (Scripps Research Institute) is conducting the Long Covid Wearable Device Study to measure how much wearable devices (like Fitbit or Garman watches) help adults with Long Covid, ME/CFS, or POTS to pace themselves, manage their symptoms, and improve their overall quality of life. Solve has supported this study by raising awareness of the study among people with Long Covid or ME/CFS and by helping to recruit participants. Watch our webinar about the trial here.