Oral <scp>MIB</scp> ‐626 (β Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) Safely Raises Blood Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Levels in Hospitalized Patients With <scp>COVID</scp> ‐19 and Acute Kidney Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) plays an important role in the innate immune response and is depleted during SARS-CoV-2 infection due to increased turnover. It is unknown whether treatment with NAD⁺ precursors can safely raise NAD⁺ levels in patients with COVID-19. To determine whether MIB-626 (<i>β-</i>nicotinamide mononucleotide), an NAD⁺ precursor, can safely increase blood NAD⁺ levels and attenuate acute kidney injury (AKI) and inflammation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, 42 adults, ≥ 18 years, hospitalized with COVID-19 and AKI, were randomized in a 3:2 ratio to MIB-626 1.0-g or placebo tablets twice daily for 14 days. Circulating NAD⁺ and its metabolites, markers of AKI, inflammation, and disease severity, were assessed. MIB-626 treatment significantly but gradually raised blood NAD⁺ levels to a peak between 5 to 14 days (16.0 ± 6.9, 25.5 ± 12.6, and 42.6 ± 25.6 μg/mL at baseline, days 5 and 14) and raised plasma concentrations of NAD⁺ metabolites 1-methylnicotinamide, N-methyl, 2-pyridone, 4-carboxamide rapidly to a peak by day 3. Changes in serum creatinine, cystatin-C, and serum markers of AKI did not differ significantly between groups. Serum CRP, IL-6, and TNFα and indices of disease severity also did not differ between groups. MIB-626 treatment of patients with COVID-19 and AKI safely and substantially raised blood NAD⁺ and plasma concentrations of NAD⁺ metabolites. Markers of AKI, inflammation, and disease severity did not differ between groups, likely due to the slow rise in NAD⁺ levels. Future studies should assess whether a rapid increase in NAD⁺ by parenteral administration can attenuate disease severity and AKI. <b>Trial Registration:</b> ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05038488.