The study shows that metformin can significantly reduce the risk of death from COVID-19 in women

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School and the UnitedHealth Group found that metformin was associated with significantly reduced risks of death from COVID-19 in women in one of the world’s largest observational studies of COVID-19 patients.

Metformin is an established generic drug for managing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces inflammatory proteins such as TNF-alpha which appear to worsen COVID-19.

The study, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, is a retrospective cohort analysis based on unidentified patient data from UnitedHealth Group. The team analyzed approximately 6,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes or obesity admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and assessed whether or not metformin use was associated with decreased mortality.

They found an association that women with diabetes or obesity, who were hospitalized for COVID-19 disease and who filled out a 90-day prescription of metformin prior to admission, had a 21% to 21% reduced chance of mortality. 24% compared to similar women who were not taking the drug. There was no significant reduction in mortality among men.

“Observational studies like this may not be conclusive, but they contribute to a growing body of evidence. Seeing a greater association with protection in women than in men may point to the reduction of inflammation as a key way that metformin reduces the risk of COVID-19.

However, more research is needed, “said principal investigator Carolyn Bramante, MD, MPH, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School.” A large database covering several geographic areas is rarely available. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to do this research together with UnitedHealth Group. “

While effective therapies are being developed to mitigate the harm of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is important that we also look and evaluate commonly used drugs with good safety profiles for their potential to fight the virus. “

Deneen Vojta, MD, Executive Vice President, Corporate Research and Development, UnitedHealth Group

The findings provide new directions for research against COVID-19. In collaboration with Christopher Tignanelli, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Bramante submitted a new investigational drug application to the Food and Drug Administration for the use of metformin for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.

The FDA has approved this application. Bramante and Tignanelli received a donation from the Parsemus Foundation to conduct a multi-site randomized prospective pilot study in collaboration with UnitedHealth Group’s Executive Director of Clinical Research for Research and Development, Ken Cohen, MD.

This pilot trial will begin with enrollment the week of December 8 and will lead to a larger trial that is fully fueled for important clinical outcomes if additional funding is available. These collaborators are still seeking this funding.