Randomised placebo controlled clinical trial of efficacy of MYOcardial protection in patients with postacute inFLAMmatory cardiac involvEment due to COVID-19 (MYOFLAME-19)

After COVID-19, symptoms due to changes in the cardiovascular system often persist for weeks. These include exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, pulling or burning pains in the chest and palpitations. These symptoms occur regardless of pre-existing heart disease or underlying conditions.

There is currently no standard treatment for these complaints.

This phase III study is investigating whether early combined cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with long COVID and persistent cardiac symptoms, as well as signs of subclinical inflammation on cardiac MRI, leads to a reduction in symptoms and inflammatory myocardial damage and, in the long term, to less development of heart failure. The funding is provided by Bayer AG and the CRO is Alcedis GMBH. The sponsor of this IIT study is Goethe University Frankfurt.
To participate in the study, please contact: registration@myoflame.com

Publications

Losartan and prednisolone for post-COVID syndrome and cardiac inflammation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Puntman VO, Nagel E. et al. Nat Commun. 2026 Jul 30;17(1):7599. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-75991-w.

Design and rationale of MYOFLAME-19 randomised controlled trial: MYOcardial protection to reduce post-COVID inFLAMmatory heart disease using cardiovascular magnetic resonance Endpoints. Puntman VO, Nagel E. et al. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson, (2025).

Principal Investigators

Principal investigator: Valentina Puntmann (Frankfurt), Co-PI: Eike Nagel (Frankfurt), Inga Voges (Kiel), Marcus Dörr (Greifswald), Dietrich Beitzke (Wien)