Case study: Hampshire resident shares his experience of taking part in COVID antiviral study

A Hampshire resident took part in a first-of-its-kind clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of new oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19, which can be taken safely at home.

Will from Hampshire participated in the NIHR-funded PANORAMIC trial in January 2022, after contracting coronavirus.

The father-of-two, who caught COVID from his eldest son, had been shielding at times during the pandemic due to ulcerative colitis, a long-term condition treated with medication which suppresses his immune system and places him at greater risk from COVID-19.

After testing positive for coronavirus, Will, who has a Hampshire-based manufacturing business, was contacted by his GP and asked if he would like to take part in the trial.

Will had no hesitation in joining PANORAMIC, which is being led by the University of Oxford and researchers at the University of Southampton. He explains:

“I’ve been told from day one, if you get this, you could be in quite a lot of trouble. So actually when you do test positive for COVID, there is a moment when you have a bit of a lump in your throat and you think, right okay, which way is this going to play?”

Will, who said his dogs helped him get through months of shielding during lockdown, is grateful to have recovered from COVID so quickly, and for the opportunity to join the trial:

"I had symptoms for about 24 hours after starting on the pills but after about 48 hours, I felt back to normal. Meanwhile, my wife and my youngest had tested positive and they all felt worse than I did.

“There are so many people who have been through far worse, so to come off as likely as I have- it’s fantastic.”

The study results were recently published in The Lancet, they reported that molnupiravir did not reduce hospitalisations or deaths among higher risk, vaccinated adults with COVID-19 in the community.

The treatment was, however, associated with a faster recovery time and reduced viral detection and load – participants who received molnupiravir reported feeling better compared to those who received usual care.

Watch the video below of Will explaining his experience of the study:

To find out more about the trial, and how to participate, please visit www.panoramictrial.org.