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COVID-19 drugs trial begins

A trial has begun into whether drugs can prevent deterioration in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The University of Oxford CATALYST study will investigate whether they can prevent patients deteriorating to respiratory failure or death.

It is hoped the study - now open in the UK, including Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital - can help researchers decide which treatments to trial in larger studies.

Infliximab attaches to a protein involved in inflammation. It is currently used to treat conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Researchers will explore how it works to reduce inflammation caused by COVID-19 by taking blood and other samples.

Namilumab targets a ‘cytokine’ called GM-CSF which is naturally secreted by immune cells in the body but, in uncontrolled levels, is believed to be a key driver of lung inflammation in COVID-19 patients.

The university’s Professor Duncan Richards, who is leading the trial in Oxford, said: “We believe these will provide important mechanistic insights into the drugs in the study and are an important aspect of the clinical and scientific value of this study.”

The study is funded by the university UK Research and Innovation and The Helena Charitable Foundation and led by the University of Birmingham. Oxfordshire recruitment is being coordinated by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Thames Valley and South Midlands.

Visit the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre website for more information.