Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy
PI: Professor Chris Brightling
In early 2020, as this protocol was being developed, there were no approved treatments for COVID-19, a disease induced by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in China in late 2019. The UK New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) advised that several possible treatments should be evaluated, including Lopinavir-Ritonavir, low-dose corticosteroids, and Hydroxychloroquine A World Health Organization (WHO) expert group issued broadly similar advice. These groups also advised that other treatments will soon emerge that require evaluation.
The Recovery Trial used an adaptive design model in order that we could streamline and therefore swiftly result the effectiveness (or not) of treatments for Covid 19. The CRF collaborated across sites at UHL to recruit patients with the vius who have been admitted. Using the ‘seek and search’ design we were able to identify suitable subjects early on and recruit them to the study.
Using this design we tested treatments ranging from anti platelet drugs to Monoclonal antibodies. As a result Dexamethazone, Tocilizimab and Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody combination were found to have benefits and have become standard of care in treatment of Covid 19.
In conjunction with other research teams across UHL, the CRF team helped Leicester hospitals become one of the highest recruiters in the country.
Website: www.recoverytrial.net