A clinical trial gave COVID‑19 patients a pill containing the antimicrobial peptide LL‑37 made by a friendly bacteria. When the pill was started within six days of diagnosis, patients cleared the virus about five days faster than those who got a placebo, and no serious side effects were seen.

Recombinant LL-37 Lactococcus lactis (Oral LL-37) was designed to prevent progression of COVID-19 by targeting virus envelope, however, effectiveness and safety of Oral LL-37 in clinical application was unclear. A total of 238 adult inpatients, open-labelled, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center study was conducted to investigate the primary end points, including negative conversion time (NCT) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and adverse events (AEs). As early as intervened on 6th day of case confirmed, Oral LL-37 could significantly shorten NCT (LL-37 9.80 ± 2.67 vs. placebo 14.04 ± 5.89, p < 0.01). For Oral LL-37, as early as treated in 6 days, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for a primary event of nucleic acid negative outcome was 6.27-fold higher than 7-day-later (HR: 6.276, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.631-10.848, p < 0.0001), and the adjusted HR of Oral LL-37 within 6 days is higher than placebo (HR: 2.427 95% CI: 1.239-4.751, p = 0.0097). No severe AEs were observed during hospitalization and follow-up investigation. This study shows that early intervention of Oral LL-37 incredibly reduces NCT implying a potential for clearance of Omicron BA.5.1.3 without evident safety concerns.