By Public asked to take part in new Covid drug trial
Adults with underlying health issues and adults over the age of 50 are being invited to take part in a new trial testing drugs designed to treat Covid.
The study is open to those who meet the above criteria, and who have recently tested positive for Covid and had symptoms develop in the past five days.
The drug used in the trial – also known as the Panoramic trial- is Molnupiravir, which was licensed by UK regulators back in November.
Previous trials showed promising reults at reducing the risk of serious illness and death.
The study will give doctors an idea of the potential benefits to vaccinated patients and help the NHS plan how the drug can be used.
Launched in December, the study already has 4,500 people signed up but needs 6,000 more as soon as possible.
You can sign up at the study website now or your GP may contact you to ask you to participate if you test positive for Covid.
Charities, including the British Liver Trust, Kidney Care UK and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, are urging anyone vulnerable to Covid to sign up.
The study is open to those aged 50 and above or aged 18-49 with an underlying health condition that makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid asked everyone eligible to “step forward” and “help us to learn more about medicines which could save thousands of lives”.
Antivirals were “part of our approach as we learn to live with Covid, by preventing the most vulnerable from being hospitalised”, he said.
It was also previously revealed that the Omicron variant was 50 to 70 per cent less likely to end in hospitalisation compared with previous variants.
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