Drug that could ‘help treat coronavirus’ to be trialled at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

A drug that could help treat coronavirus is to be trialled in patients at hospitals across England and Scotland, including Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
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The trials of Remdesivir have been fast-tracked and will take place in 15 NHS centres.

Manufactured by pharmaceutical company Gilead, the drug is one of many being tested across the world as a treatment for Covid-19.

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The manufacturer has started randomised studies into the drug’s safety and efficiency in patients with moderate to severe cases of the virus.

The Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.  The Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.
The Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield.

The first of the two studies will take place at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (adult services), Manchester Royal Infirmary, and Wythenshawe Hospital.

Hilary Hutton-Squire, vice president and general manager at Gilead Sciences UK and Ireland, said: "Gilead started research into Remdesivir more than a decade ago.

"We are now in a position to consider its potential to treat Covid-19 and rapidly progress its development, and these clinical trials will help generate important data on the safety and efficacy of the medication in the coming weeks."

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Dr Siu Ping Lam, director of licensing division of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, said: "The MHRA is ready to prioritise and provide any assistance for clinical trials and otherregulatory applications in response to Covid-19, in line with Government priorities."We have procedures for rapid scientific advice, reviews and approvals and are ready to support manufacturers, researchers and other regulators."We have dedicated resources to ensure this happens, as we did during the Ebola crisis when we authorised clinical trial applications within a week."

Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor at Leeds Institute of Medical Research and chairman of the virus division, Microbiology Society, said: "Given that a Sars-CoV2 vaccine may require several months to develop and scale up, an effective antiviral therapy has tremendous potential to lessen the severity of Covid-19 in the short to medium term.

"Thus, despite the need for intravenous administration, use of this agent in a hospital setting could have a profound impact upon the ability of healthcare systems to cope with this extraordinary pandemic."