UVA Health seeks volunteers for COVID-19 medication trial
UVA Health recently joined a nationwide study evaluating two repurposed medications in the search for e ective, safe treatments for mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
Repurposed medications are already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of other diseases or conditions.
The nationwide double-blind study, called ACTIV- 6, is expected to enroll nearly 15,000 participants from across the country. A double-blind study means that both study participants and researchers do not know which medication participants are receiving as part of the trial.
Virginia residents can get more information on how to participate in the trial by visiting activ6study.org or calling 833-385-1880. Volunteers in the trial can participate from home. Locally, UVA Health operates hospitals in Culpeper, Haymarket and Manassas.
The study is now testing Fluvoxamine and Ivermectin, which is not available at UVA Health for COVID outside of this trial.
“While we have some great new drugs for COVID-19 in outpatients, like Paxlovid and sotrovimab, supplies are limited and it's still important to nd potential new treatments,” said Patrick E.H. Jackson, MD, principal investigator for the clinical trial at UVA Health. “Because the drugs we're studying are cheap and widely available, they could have a huge global impact if we nd they're e ective for COVID treatment.”
The use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 has been controversial throughout the pandmeic due to the uncertainty of its validity in treating the virus.
“We don’t have good evidence so far that Ivermectin is bene cial for COVID-19, which is exactly why we’re performing this study,” Jackson continued.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website, it has not authorized or approved Ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 as available data does not show the drug is e ective.
The drug, however, is approved to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms, head lice and skin conditions.
The FDA also warns that taking large doses of Ivermectin is dangerous.
To be eligible, participants must be 30-years- old or older, have had a positive COVID-19 test within the past 10 days, and have at least two symptoms of the illness for seven days or less. Symptoms include fatigue, di - culty breathing, fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, chills, headache, sore throat, nasal symptoms, and/or new loss of sense of taste or smell.
Participation involves taking the medication and keeping track of symptoms over 90 days through online surveys. Medications are shipped at no cost to participants.