1. patients with an indication for hospitalization (e.g. spo2 \<92%) 2. patients participating in another clinical trial with a new investigational drug or investigational non-drug treatment 3. known allergy or intolerance to pamapimod or any other ingredient of the imp or another p38 inhibitor 4. known allergy or intolerance of clinical relevance to pioglitazone or any other ingredient of the imp. 5. patients where oral administration of pioglitazone is contraindicated (i.e. cardiac failure or history of cardiac failure (nyha stages i to iv), with hepatic impairment, diabetic ketoacidosis, current bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, uninvestigated macroscopic haematuria 6. any use of cyp450 2c8 inducers (e.g. rifampicin) 7. known or suspected active viral (including hiv, hepatitis b, hepatitis c), bacterial, mycobacterial or fungal infection other than covid-19. virologic testing not required unless infection is suspected. 8. pregnant or breastfeeding women 9. any uncontrolled concurrent illness that would put the patient at a greater risk or limit compliance with the study requirements as determined at the discretion of the investigator 10. liver enzyme elevation more than 3x above normal in the last 4 weeks or at inclusion 11. patients who are detained or committed to an institution by a law court or by legal authorities (subject is vulnerable, such as deprived of freedom)

1. patients with an indication for hospitalization (e.g. spo2 \<92%) 2. patients participating in another clinical trial with a new investigational drug or investigational non-drug treatment 3. known allergy or intolerance to pamapimod or any other ingredient of the imp or another p38 inhibitor 4. known allergy or intolerance of clinical relevance to pioglitazone or any other ingredient of the imp. 5. patients where oral administration of pioglitazone is contraindicated (i.e. cardiac failure or history of cardiac failure (nyha stages i to iv), with hepatic impairment, diabetic ketoacidosis, current bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, uninvestigated macroscopic haematuria 6. any use of cyp450 2c8 inducers (e.g. rifampicin) 7. known or suspected active viral (including hiv, hepatitis b, hepatitis c), bacterial, mycobacterial or fungal infection other than covid-19. virologic testing not required unless infection is suspected. 8. pregnant or breastfeeding women 9. any uncontrolled concurrent illness that would put the patient at a greater risk or limit compliance with the study requirements as determined at the discretion of the investigator 10. liver enzyme elevation more than 3x above normal in the last 4 weeks or at inclusion 11. patients who are detained or committed to an institution by a law court or by legal authorities (subject is vulnerable, such as deprived of freedom)

patients with an indication for hospitalization (e.g. spo2 <92%) patients participating in another clinical trial with a new investigational drug or investigational non-drug treatment known allergy or intolerance to pamapimod or any other ingredient of the imp or another p38 inhibitor known allergy or intolerance of clinical relevance to pioglitazone or any other ingredient of the imp. patients where oral administration of pioglitazone is contraindicated (i.e. cardiac failure or history of cardiac failure (nyha stages i to iv), with hepatic impairment, diabetic ketoacidosis, current bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, uninvestigated macroscopic haematuria any use of cyp450 2c8 inducers (e.g. rifampicin) known or suspected active viral (including hiv, hepatitis b, hepatitis c), bacterial, mycobacterial or fungal infection other than covid-19. virologic testing not required unless infection is suspected. pregnant or breastfeeding women any uncontrolled concurrent illness that would put the patient at a greater risk or limit compliance with the study requirements as determined at the discretion of the investigator liver enzyme elevation more than 3x above normal in the last 4 weeks or at inclusion patients who are detained or committed to an institution by a law court or by legal authorities (subject is vulnerable, such as deprived of freedom)

patients with an indication for hospitalization (e.g. spo2 <92%) patients participating in another clinical trial with a new investigational drug or investigational non-drug treatment known allergy or intolerance to pamapimod or any other ingredient of the imp or another p38 inhibitor known allergy or intolerance of clinical relevance to pioglitazone or any other ingredient of the imp. patients where oral administration of pioglitazone is contraindicated (i.e. cardiac failure or history of cardiac failure (nyha stages i to iv), with hepatic impairment, diabetic ketoacidosis, current bladder cancer or a history of bladder cancer, uninvestigated macroscopic haematuria any use of cyp450 2c8 inducers (e.g. rifampicin) known or suspected active viral (including hiv, hepatitis b, hepatitis c), bacterial, mycobacterial or fungal infection other than covid-19. virologic testing not required unless infection is suspected. pregnant or breastfeeding women any uncontrolled concurrent illness that would put the patient at a greater risk or limit compliance with the study requirements as determined at the discretion of the investigator liver enzyme elevation more than 3x above normal in the last 4 weeks or at inclusion patients who are detained or committed to an institution by a law court or by legal authorities (subject is vulnerable, such as deprived of freedom)