Uni leads drug trial to help protect care homes
SEARCH FOR NEW WAY TO KEEP MOST VULNERABLE SAFE
A NEW trial led by the University of Nottingham will look at how the transmission of Covid-19 in care homes can be reduced so more people can visit loved ones.
With funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the University of Nottingham is calling on up to 400 care homes to take part in a trial of drugs that already show promising results in treating Covid-19.
The PROTECT trial now aims to show how drugs can be used to prevent Covid-19 from being transmitted to high-risk patients in care homes.
Although most care home residents have been offered a Covid-19 vaccination, the effectiveness of vaccines in this group has not yet been fully established and means preventative measures could still help save lives in care homes.
Lead researcher, Professor Philip Bath, from the University of Nottingham, said: “Apart from vaccines, there are no drugs for preventing serious Covid-19 and we believe that the PROTECT trial has a good chance of finding one or more drugs that might reduce the awful death rates seen in care homes.”
The UK has more than 21,000 care homes looking after 420,000 residents, many of whom have dementia or physical care needs. Up to half of all Covid-19 deaths in the UK have occurred in care homes.
If PROTECT can identify an effective drug to reduce the severity of Covid-19 and the likelihood of transmission, it could help enable a return to more normal life for care home residents, including more relaxed visiting policies.
PROTECT will randomise care homes (rather than individual residents) to one of up to three drugs or no additional treatment.
The treatments will be given alongside the ongoing vaccination programme.
The trial will be coordinated from the University of Nottingham working with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge, Cardiff, Surrey and Warwick and Queen’s University Belfast and University College London.
Professor Adam Gordon, President-elect of the British Geriatrics Society and co-chief investigator at the University of Nottingham said: “Having worked closely with care homes throughout the pandemic, I have seen how hard it has been for residents, their families and staff to deal with the high rates of illnesses and deaths, and the associated loss of routine, including visiting.
“The announcement of PROTECT is an important step towards finding preventative treatments that might help restore normality.”
Vic Rayner, Executive Director of the National Care Forum, said: “This trial is hugely important on so many levels.
“Firstly, it will enable detailed research with the intention of identifying lifesaving interventions that could prevent some of our most vulnerable citizens from contracting Covid-19.
“And secondly, because it recognises that those living within care homes continue to have a vital contribution to make towards society.”