Covid-19 patients from South Tyneside and Sunderland ‘are playing a crucial part in helping to identify future treatments for COVID-19 to protect people all over the world’ according to the trust.
The NHS trust is enrolling patients into two urgent public health research studies set up by the National Institute for Health Research.
Currently there are no proven treatments specifically for Covid-19.
However, the most promising potential treatments have been identified based on UK research with other countries internationally.
The national clinical trials aim to establish just how effective these potential treatments are.
The research trials named ‘RECOVERY’ and ‘REMAP-CAP’ are being led by Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr Liz Fuller and Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Dr Alistair Roy.
The two doctors are receiving support from the trust’s research team.
Identification of suitable patients for the trials is the responsibility of the trust.
The RECOVERY trial in led by the University of Oxford and is testing four suggested treatments for Covid-19 on patients already in hospital with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 infection;
Two antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV, a type of steroid used in a range of conditions and a commonly used antibiotic are involved in this particular trial.
Any data from the trial will be reviewed regularly so that any effective treatment can be identified quickly and made available to all infected patients.
The REMAP-CAP trial is an international trial with the focus being on critically ill patients with pneumonia acquired within the community.
Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a significant cause of hospitalisation and illness worldwide.
Antiviral therapy and immune modulation therapy have been added to the trial as specific treatments for Covid-19.
Dr Fuller said:
“We are proud to be one of the Trusts across the country taking part in the RECOVERY trial and helping to establish potential treatments for COVID-19 as quickly as possible.”
Dr Roy added:
“Quality research, like the REMAP-CAP and RECOVERY studies, help us to develop future care for patients. It is only through such studies that we can continue to provide the best evidence-based care which our patients deserve.”
