A NEW trial of a “game-changing” pill to combat Covid-19 has opened in Southampton.
The antiviral drug, Molnupiravir, was recently approved for use in the UK for people with mild to moderate coronavirus symptoms who are at extra risk due to underlying conditions.
But now, a trial to test the treatment in the wider community has opened at the at the NIHR (CRF) at University Hospital Southampton.
Molnupiravir works by interfering with the virus’ replication and preventing it from multiplying which keeps virus levels low in the body, reducing its severity.
Coming as part of the AGILE COVID-19 Drug Testing Initiative run by the Clinical Trials Unit, people from across the South are now being invited to take part.
Open to all adults with laboratory confirmed Covid-19, people who participate in the trial will be within five days of their first symptoms and can be vaccinated or unvaccinated.
A total of 180 people will take part in order to evaluate the safety and optimal dose of the drug in a wider population of patients.
Professor Christopher Edwards, Principal Investigator for AGILE in Southampton and Associate Director of the Southampton CRF, said: “Despite the huge success of the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme, we still need to find treatments for people who do contract the virus to prevent them developing more serious disease and reduce hospital admissions.
“Having a tablet, which is easy to administer and is effective against the virus is game-changing, and we are excited to be involved in the AGILE trial of molnupiravir.”
Samples collected from participants will be analysed in the laboratory to further gain a better understanding of which patients and Covid-19 variants molnupiravir works in, in the hope it is suitable for everyone in the community to access.
Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, said: “It is fantastic that molnupiravir has been approved for use in vulnerable members of the community.
“However, the previous trials which led to this decision were carried out in unvaccinated people at the start of the pandemic and we need to understand more about who could benefit from molnupiravir and how it works, for example does it work as well in those with Omicron.”
The trial has currently recruited 139 participants from across the UK.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article