First trial of coronavirus treatments through GP rolled out

The first trial to test potential treatments for coronavirus through GP surgeries is being rolled out across the UK.

Funded by NIHR and UK Research and Innovation, the PRINCIPLE trial is testing drugs that could prevent the need for hospitalisation in people over 50 with coronavirus. The study is looking at patients who are especially vulnerable to virus because of pre-existing health conditions such as heart disease or a weakened immune system.

In the first phase, the trial is evaluating whether a seven-day course of hydroxychloroquine can reduce the severity of coronavirus symptoms. The drug is already widely used for treating malaria and certain types of arthritis. The antibiotic azithromycin, which is known to have antiviral properties, will also soon be added to the trial.

More than 500 GP practices across the country are recruiting participants who have coronavirus symptoms and are aged 50 and over with underlying health conditions. People aged over 65 with symptoms can also take part, even if they don’t have any underlying conditions.

Professor Chris Butler, Professor of Primary Care in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, said: “The PRINCIPLE trial platform is enabling us to rapidly evaluate potential treatments for COVID-19 in older people who are most at risk of serious complications from the illness. With enough people recruited, 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 – a significant milestone in the course of this pandemic. As soon as we find that any one of the drugs in our trial is making a critical difference to people’s health, we want it to be part of clinical practice as soon as it can be introduced.”