Detection of significant antiviral drug effects on COVID-19 using viral load and PCR-positive rate in randomized controlled trials

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of antiviral drugs against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we calculated the sample size needed to detect significant differences in daily viral load in randomized controlled trials. While calculating sample sizes, simulated viral loads that mimicked longitudinal clinical data were used. The sample size computed from the viral load was the smallest 2 to 4 days after trial participation, while the smallest sample size computed from the positive rate was 4 to 7 days after clinical trial participation.