Kent GPs offering patients opportunity to join world-leading COVID-19 antiviral trial

Newton Place Surgery in Faversham, along with Canterbury Medical Practice and New Hayesbank Surgery, Ashford have begun offering their patients the opportunity to join the word-leading PANORAMIC COVID-19 antiviral trial.

The Platform Adaptive trial of NOvel antiviRals for eArly treatMent of covid-19 In the Community (PANORAMIC) trial has been set up to rapidly assess antiviral treatments. The purpose of this clinical trial is to find new treatments that help those suffering with COVID-19 at home and in the community get better quicker and without needing to be treated in hospital. Most people with COVID-19 are treated in the community and so  treatments that are suitable and effective for use early on in the illness need to be found.

People can join the study if they are aged 50 and over, or between 18 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that make them clinically more vulnerable. All participants also need to have had a positive COVID-19 test (either a PCR test or Lateral Flow test) and be within five days of the onset of symptoms.

Local people will be contacted by a local healthcare professional, such as a GP or a research nurse, to consider enrolling in the study. Alternatively, anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can also sign-up to take part in the study directly through the PANORAMIC trial website.

The first antiviral drug currently being assessed through the trial is molnupiravir, which has already been shown to be safe and effective through smaller-scale trials. The study is expected to show how well molnupiravir works in a predominantly vaccinated population, as well as its cost effectiveness.

PANORAMIC is a record breaking trial having recruited over 10,000 participants since it opened in December, and is believed to be the world’s largest study of community-based treatments for acute COVID-19. Despite this significant milestone being reached, recruitment to the molnupiravir arm continues in earnest - with researchers aiming to enrol thousands more participants into this trial arm.

Dr Vanessa Short, Clinical Research Lead at Newton Place Surgery said: “We are proud to be able to offer our patients and people in our local community who test positive with COVID-19 the opportunity to access antiviral treatments which have the potential to improve symptoms and reduce hospital admissions for people with COVID-19.

“I would encourage our patients, if they meet the criteria, to consider taking part in this study. By doing so you will be playing a vital role in helping experts find new ways to tackle the symptoms of COVID-19 early.”

All participants will take part from their own homes, without needing to visit a clinic or hospital. Participants randomised to the group that receives an antiviral treatment will have their medicines sent directly to their homes by courier. Participants will keep a daily diary for 28 days through the PANORAMIC website or receive a phone call from the trial team on days 7, 14 and 28 to speak about their symptoms and any NHS care they have needed.

PANORAMIC is funded by the National Institute for Health Research, led by Oxford University’s Primary Care Clinical Trials Unit, while delivery of the trial is supported by the NIHR Clinical Research Network.