(CBDRA60) to Prevent or Reduce Symptoms of COVID-19 and Prevention of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection PASC

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), presents a major threat to human health. SARS-CoV-2 is highly infectious and is associated with extensive morbidity and mortality. Our study shares important features with other clinical trials using supplements or other widely available medications (e.g., Ascorbic Acid, Zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin C). Our study shares two important elements with these previous studies, including: 1. The use of adaptive and cost-effective study design methods, 2. The testing of prophylactic supplementation using known, natural substances that have demonstrated safety and limited side effects. The focus of this study is to use a supplement that combines Cannabidiol and Gigartina Red Algae in creating "CBDRA60", a sublingual tablet, which is hypothesized to help reduce the duration of symptoms in patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The rationale and design of our trial (N=60), is as follows: 60 individuals newly diagnosed with COVID-19 infection will be randomized to one of two groups. They will either receive CBDRA60 (30mg CBD, 30mgRA / 60mg combo; 2x/daily with food or 120 mg total) or a placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The study duration will be 5 weeks. The primary outcome for newly diagnosed individuals is the prevention of disease progression which leads to hospitalization. The secondary outcome is a reduction in symptom severity scores. COVID-19 patients with weakened innate immune systems may be susceptible to more severe disease and higher mortality. An impaired host immune response may lead to higher SARS-COV-2 viral load and subsequent overactivation of the adaptive immune system that results in cytokine release syndrome. CBD and Gigartina Red Algae can modulate both the innate and adaptive immune responses, have anti-viral activity and thereby can suppress the consequent hyperinflammatory response. Viral infection activates a pathological