'Real possibility' coronavirus drug treatment trialled in north Wales ready before vaccine
There is a "real possibility" that a drug treatment for coronavirus being trialled in north Wales may be ready for patients before any vaccine is developed, according to one of the scientists leading the project in Wales.
Clinicians and researchers across Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board are taking part in a national clinical trial to test the effects of potential drug treatments for COVID-19 patients.
There are currently no specific treatments for COVID-19 and The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial will provide doctors and the health service with information they need to determine which treatments should be used.
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd Hospital and Wrexham Maelor Hospital are amongst 165 hospitals in the UK taking part in the trial, which is sponsored by Oxford University, and have so far recruited 26 patients.
"We're looking at a variety of treatments for people who have coronavirus", said Dr Daniel Menzies who leads the Glan Clwyd team.
"It's a very large trial and we're just one of the hospitals involved. There's a variety of drugs being tested. A number of them are already in established medical practice so we've been able to get them to the patients very quickly.
"Any patient who is unwell enough to unfortunately be admitted to hospital with coronavirus is eligible to take part.
"Patients are often willing to take part in clinical trial and this is no different. It's only by conducting research like this that we can know for certain which drugs will work and which will not."
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The treatments initially included in the study have been recommended by an expert panel that advises the Chief Medical Officer in England. These are Lopinavir-Ritonavir, normally used to treat HIV, and the steroid dexamethasone, which is used in a wide range of conditions to reduce inflammation.
"Both are a virus. HIV and Coronavirus are both viruses", Dr Menzies explained on ITV Cymru Wales.
"There are some suggestions from some preliminary work that anti-retroviral drugs used in HIV treatment may have some efficacy in treating coronavirus but we don't know that for certain yet hence the reason for a trial to test exactly that".
With a vaccine for coronavirus understood to be at least a year away from being widely available, we asked Dr Menzies if a drug treatment may be available first.
"I think that is a real possibility", he replied.
"We are one collaborator in this enormous trial across the UK. But I have spoken to the trial leaders in Oxford and they are looking at the evidence it emerges in a very quick way, much quicker than in conventional drug trials.
"Every week they are looking to see if there are any patterns emerging in terms of effectiveness of these drugs but we still need enough data to know if these drugs are effective".
The clinicians leading the trials around the UK are still looking for people to take part.
"Patients have been very gracious with their time but we are always looking for more volunteers", Dr Menzies said.
"My plea to patients is if you are unfortunate enough to be admitted to hospital because of coronavirus and someone approaches you with the offer of taking part in this trial then think about it carefully, read the information we give you and consider taking part".