Addenbrooke's coronavirus patient one of first to take part in national trial

A coronavirus patient at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge has become one of the first in the country to take part in a national trial aimed at finding new treatments for the disease.

The trial is being led by researchers at Oxford University and will initially test three drugs that are safely used for other conditions.

The medications include hydroxychloroquine, which is commonly used to fight malaria.

The results will be regularly reviewed so that any treatments that are found to be effective can be made available to all patients as soon as possible.

The opportunity to take part in the trial will be offered to anyone who's hospitalised with Covid-19 at Addenbrooke's - as long as they don't have any other health conditions that would interact with the drugs.

"This is an example of Cambridge researchers, as part of a national effort, pulling together to deliver potentially life-saving treatments in record time in the most difficult of circumstances," Dr Martin Knolle from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.

"I am very proud of our team and research community for this response."

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