Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has today (Friday, 27 March) enrolled its first patient into a national trial aimed at identifying treatments for Covid-19.
The Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) Trial, led by Oxford researchers, will test several medications that are safely used for other conditions, and have shown promise in other countries.
The opportunity to join this trial will be offered to adults who are hospitalised with Covid-19 at Addenbrooke's, and other participating NHS hospitals across the country, and who do not have health conditions that would interact with the trial drugs.
There are three drugs being tested in the first stages of the trial, including hydroxychloroquine, which is similar to a drug used to treat malaria. However, the trial follows an adaptive design, which means that if further drugs show promise, they can be added to this trial.
The trial results will be regularly reviewed so that any treatments that are found to be effective can be made available to all patients.
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. I am very proud of our team and research community for this response.
Local principal investigator, Dr Martin Knolle