Surrey residents called on for new Covid-19 trial
The trial aims to find out if more common, "at home" medicines could help in the fight against coronavirus
People in Sussex with early symptoms of Covid-19 are being called on to take part in a new clinical trial.
The PRINCIPLE trial is looking for people aged 50 and over with underlying health conditions and otherwise health people aged 65 and over.
The Oxford University-led study is evaluating whether certain common "at home" medicines may prevent patients in local communities with Covid-19 becoming more unwell and needing hospital treatment.
People meeting the criteria who want to enrol can do so here.
Participation will be entirely remote, with no face-to-face visits required.
It’s more important than ever that we find out as much as we can so we can move forward
Toni Symons, 56, agreed to take part in the PRINCIPLE study and was randomised to receive a drug called azithromycin, which is a commonly used antibiotic. Her participation involved taking a tablet twice a day for three days and completing a 28-day online diary of how she was feeling. She said:
“I was very happy to say ‘yes’ after the GP talked me through what the study involved. With Covid being such a big problem, it’s more important than ever that we find out as much as we can so we can move forward.
“The more people who can get involved in studies like this, the more researchers can learn and identify treatments that work.”
We spoke to Dr Paul Deffley, National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex specialty lead for Primary Care about the trial, and how much it could mean for communities and the NHS: