RESIDENTS in Covid-19 hotspots like Solihull are being urged to take part in a community coronavirus trial – from the comfort of their own homes.
Local health leaders and researchers are appealing for people with typical Covid-19 symptoms to take part in the clinical trial called ‘Principle’, joining the 1,000 people nationwide who have already signed up.
The National Institute for Health Research-supported study, led by the University of Oxford, is evaluating whether certain commonly used medicines may prevent patients in the community with Covid-19 from becoming more unwell and needing hospital care.
Several medicines with well-known safety profiles are being evaluated and compared with usual care.
Researchers need people aged between 50 and 64 years old with pre-existing medical conditions, or otherwise healthy people 65 years and over.
The study is looking at patients who are especially vulnerable to Covid-19 because of age, or pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease or a weakened immune system.
Evidence shows that people aged 50 years and over are at higher risk of developing more severe illness and complications.
As a community-based primary care Covid-19 trial, no face to face visits are required of those taking part – just telephone or internet access – while participant packs will be couriered to patient’s homes.
Participants’ GP practices will be notified of the study and can discuss it with anyone taking part.
Dr David Shukla, Primary Care Clinical Research Lead for the Clinical Research Network West Midlands said: “If we can recruit enough people, this trial will give us the vital information we need to understand whether existing drugs can help people recover sooner
and at home, without needing to be admitted to hospital.”
Visit the Principle website for more information or call 0800 138 0880.
Further details about the study can be found at: www.principletrial.org
