Test subjects wanted for COVID antiviral trial

Test subjects wanted for COVID antiviral trial in the UK.

A new study is looking for test subjects for antiviral COVID treatments. Participants must be either aged over 50 or in the 18 to 49-year-old age bracket with underlying health conditions. Participants must have COVID symptoms that began in the last five days and have taken a PCR test that came back positive. The study will be carried out by the University of Oxford.

According to the Scottish government: “Antiviral medicines for the treatment of COVID-19 will be evaluated through a new national study called PANORAMIC, run by the University of Oxford. The UK-wide study will prioritise those at greater risk of being severely ill if they test positive for COVID-19. Eligibility for the study is therefore limited to those who meet certain criteria.”

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith commented: “This University of Oxford study will test whether new antiviral treatments for COVID-19 can help people in the early stages of the illness recover faster and therefore reduce the number of people being admitted to hospital.

“The results from the national study will give us a clearer understanding on how antivirals work in the UK population, which will allow the NHS to better plan how to make COVID-19 antivirals available for those who would benefit from them the most. We will provide further detail on plans for wider availability of antivirals in due course.

“I would encourage people in Scotland to take part if they are eligible. You may be contacted about taking part by a health care professional if you have a positive PCR result, or you can register yourself via the Oxford University website www.panoramictrial.org.”

He went on to add: “The treatment is tablets taken orally as soon as possible after getting a COVID-19 infection to stop the illness from getting worse.

“Antiviral treatments are in addition to COVID-19 vaccinations – including boosters – and not a replacement. We hope they will help reduce the severity of illness in people who may fall ill even if they have been vaccinated.

“It remains clear that getting vaccinated is the single most effective step that anyone can take to protect themselves from the most severe disease caused by COVID-19. Anyone who has not yet received their first or second COVID-19 vaccination can check their nearest open access centre on NHS Inform or phone the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013.”


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Alex
Written by

Alex Glenn

Originally from the UK, Alex is based in Almeria and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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