Repurposing, novel drugs and methods to stop transmission in the fight against COVID-19

Southampton hosts a NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) with a focus on respiratory disease and our CRUK Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) there has also previously developed some non-cancer lung studies as it is also a NIHR CTU support funded CTU. Southampton CTU has been contributing its CRUK/NIHR staff expertise in study design, development and/or delivery of a number of COVID-19 trials including:

1. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial to determine the safety and efficacy of inhaled SNG001 (IFN-β1a for nebulisation) for the treatment of patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Southampton CTU (SCTU) trial management staff have supported Synarigen expanding this trial across NHS sites and are helping develop it to recruit patients in the community.
2. The ACCORD-2 study – a phase II platform study to identify drugs that may be effective in treating COVID-19. Recruited its first patient early May, the most promising candidates will then go on to be trialled through the international RECOVERY trial.
3. The AGILE-ACCORD study – a Bayesian phase I/II platform – developed from concept to a regulatory approved trial platform by SCTU in 6 weeks, with support from colleagues such those at CRUK CDD – looking to open to recruitment in May.   
4. The GOOD-NIGHT COVID trial – SCTU have been supporting researchers to undertake a feasibility study of nasal irrigation and gargling to halt transmission of COVID-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals – looking to open to recruitment in May.