Dundee University to lead first Scottish-led drug trial to tackle Covid-19
Researchers are to conduct trials of brensocatib which treats lung inflammation in positive patients
Last updated 23rd Apr 2020
Dundee University is to head up the first Scottish-led drug trial to treat the most serious symptoms of coronavirus
Researchers are to conduct trials of brensocatib which treats lung inflammation in positive patients.
They are expected to begin next month and will recruit 300 volunteers from 10 hospitals across the UK.
Half of the group will receive brensocatib in addition to standard hospital care while the other half will receive a placebo.
The trial is being led by James Chalmers, British Lung Foundation Professor of Respiratory Research at the University.
Professor Chalmers is also Consultant Respiratory Physician at Ninewells Hospital, one of the trial sites.
He said, “High rates of patients requiring ventilation and overwhelming intensive care unit capacity has been a major cause of excess deaths around the world and we hope that brensocatib can put a brake on the devastation this disease causes, to literally stop COVID-19 when it begins attacking the lungs.
“The medical community has never faced a more urgent need for treatment than the unprecedented situation we face today with COVID-19.
"Our researchers at the University of Dundee have been studying this kind of lung inflammation for more than 10 years and so are in the perfect position to rapidly intervene in patients to try to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19.”
Professor Chalmers continued, “The mechanism of action of brensocatib observed in a study in bronchiectasis patients provides a strong rationale for evaluating this novel treatment candidate in other neutrophil-driven inflammatory conditions.
"It is my hope that it will have applicability in patients at risk of ARDS—a devastating outcome of COVID-19 for which there are currently no approved therapies.”
Study investigator and NHS Tayside R+D director Professor Jacob George added, “This is the first Scottish-led drug trial into COVID-19 and it has been prioritised and designated as an urgent public health study.
"Tayside can be justifiably proud of this and we look forward to collaborating with other NHS Boards in Scotland to recruit eligible patients onto the trial.”
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