Facilitators and barriers to decentralized Long COVID platform clinical trials using repurposed drugs

Long COVID is an emerging chronic condition that results in substantial impairments in quality of life, physical function, and ability to maintain gainful employment. There are no FDA-approved treatments for Long COVID, and recent institution-based clinical trials have not yielded effective treatments. Current standard of care involves trial-and-error drug repurposing that warrants evaluation in rigorous clinical trials. Here we describe potential advantages of decentralized repurposing drug trials as an alternative or complementary approach to institution-based trials. Additionally, we describe lessons learned when launching a local feasibility pilot trial that may inform the design of future decentralized trials in the Long COVID field.