The UK is conducting the world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments as part of global efforts to combat COVID-19.
“The UK is a world leader in science and research, and these skills combined with the resource of the national health service mean we are well placed to lead the way in the search for treatments for COVID-19. I wish to thank all staff and patients involved in these trials for their efforts in finding new and effective treatments.” - Dr Ben Spencer
Almost 1,000 patients from 132 different hospitals have been already recruited and thousands more are expected to join the trial, which is testing a number of promising treatments. If successful, these treatments will be given to NHS patients as quickly as possible, and could eventually benefit hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
The trial, being conducted across 130 NHS hospitals, is testing a number of medicines recommended by an expert panel. They include:
- Lopinavir-Ritonavir, commonly used to treat HIV
- Dexamethasone, a type of steroid used in a range of conditions to reduce inflammation
- Hydroxychloroquine, a treatment for malaria
Health and Social Care Secretary of State Matt Hancock said:
“As one of three major trials funded by the government, this marks a major milestone in our battle against coronavirus and offers renewed hope that together we can beat this.
The public still has a crucial role to play by staying at home so we can protect the NHS and save lives.”
The trial marks a significant step in identifying treatments for COVID-19 that could benefit patients and underpins our science-backed approach to fighting this virus. For more information on the trial, click here.
