The world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments is well underway in the UK as part of the race to find a treatment.
A number of promising treatments are being tested and, if the science supports it, will be given to NHS patients as quickly as possible.
Definitive results on whether the treatments are safe and effective are expected within months and, if positive, they could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
The trial is testing a number of medicines recommended by an expert panel advising the Chief Medical Officer for England. They include:
Lopinavir-Ritonavir, commonly used to treat HIV
Dexamethasone, a type of steroid use in a range of conditions to reduce inflammation
Hydroxychloroquine, a treatment for malaria
The trial is being conducted in over 130 NHS hospitals across the UK. Adult patients who have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are being invited to take part. The trial is specially designed so that as further medicines are identified, these can be added to the study within days.
The latest figures show that more than 2,000 patients have been enrolled in less than 2 weeks.
More information here: gov.uk/government/news/worl...
Stay home, stay safe
Jackie