美国已有多达2,000万例长新冠病例，记录超过200种症状。登场的新试验将评估Zepbound成分tirzepatide是否可通过全身抗炎作用改善症状。Scripps将以全远程形式随机分配1,000名≥18岁且有医学记录的患者，服用tirzepatide或安慰剂为期1年，并监测步数与体重以避免过度减重。此前针对MCAS的临床研究（n=47）显示89%在GLP-1治疗下获益。临床医师以约标准起始剂量1/10的微量（标准为2.5 mg）治疗约40–50名长新冠患者，并在350余例微量使用者中观察到60–90%疲劳、脑雾与疼痛下降。
GLP-1类药物除减重外，还显示心血管与肾脏保护，机制可能独立于体重下降并涉及抗炎。长新冠患者常带有持续炎症，可能源自病毒残留或自身抗体，研究者期望tirzepatide能抑制炎症。尽管拜登政府已投入18亿美元研究长新冠，疗法进展依旧缓慢，疫苗接种与Paxlovid仍是降低风险的主要手段。
由于长新冠患者行动不便，传统试验招募困难；全远程设计意在纳入重症、卧床个体。GLP-1药物的潜在作用涵盖抗炎、代谢与心血管效应，但研究者提醒症状谱系广泛，不太可能出现通用疗法。Scripps试验使用标准2.5 mg起始剂量，NIH亦计划测试GLP-1药物，显示临床界正快速扩大探索。
As many as 20 million Americans have had long Covid, with more than 200 documented symptoms. A new trial will test whether tirzepatide, the ingredient in Zepbound, can improve symptoms through systemic anti-inflammatory effects. Scripps will remotely randomize 1,000 adults with documented long Covid to tirzepatide or placebo for one year, tracking step counts and weight to avoid excessive loss. Prior MCAS research (n=47) showed 89% benefited from GLP-1 therapy. Clinicians using microdoses—about one-tenth of the 2.5 mg standard start—have treated 40–50 long Covid patients and reported 60–90% reductions in fatigue, brain fog, and pain across more than 350 microdose cases.
GLP-1 drugs show cardiovascular and renal benefits beyond weight loss, likely via anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Long Covid often features persistent inflammation from viral remnants or autoantibodies, making tirzepatide a candidate therapy. Despite $1.8 billion invested under the Biden administration, progress on treatments remains slow; vaccination and Paxlovid remain primary risk-reduction tools.
Mobility limits have hindered enrollment in traditional trials; the remote design aims to include severely affected, homebound individuals. GLP-1 drugs display anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects, but researchers caution there is unlikely to be a universal treatment given symptom diversity. The Scripps study will use the standard 2.5 mg dose, and an NIH-backed trial will also test a GLP-1 drug, signaling rapidly expanding clinical interest.