(Photo: Associated Press)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Drug touted by U.S. president

Alberta trial to look at whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent COVID-19 hospitalization

Apr 13, 2020 | 3:05 PM

Alberta will investigate the effectiveness of a drug touted by U.S. President Donald Trump in preventing hospitalization for people at the highest risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19.

The Alberta Hope COVID-19 study will recruit 1,600 Albertans to determine whether a prescribed five-day treatment of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can prevent hospitalization for those at highest risk of developing a severe illness.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the goal is to reduce the risk of severe disease experienced by individuals and reduce the burden on the health-care system by helping people recover from the effects of the virus at home.

“As we’ve learned from other countries, hospital systems can become overwhelmed by those infected with the virus who need critical care,” Shandro says in a release. “Our goal is to reduce the risk of severe disease experienced by individuals and reduce the burden on the health-care system by helping people recover from the effects of the virus at home.”

The clinical trial is being led by University of Calgary and University of Alberta researchers, with support from the Alberta government, Alberta Health Services and its Strategic Clinical Networks, Calgary Health Trust, Alberta Innovates and the University of Calgary/Alberta Health Services Clinical Research Fund.

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“Clinical trials like this will give healthcare professionals more evidence to determine how best to care for patients. AHS is rallying alongside its academic partners at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta to help leverage research in the response to this global pandemic,” says Dr. Kathryn Todd, vice-president of Provincial Clinical Excellence, Alberta Health Services.

HCQ is originally an anti-malarial drug currently used mostly for immunological disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Laboratory studies suggest it may be helpful against COVID-19.

“We will be targeting Albertans who are at risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19.” explains Dr. Luanne Metz, study lead, and professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. “Those include people over 18, living independently, who have an underlying medical condition which has proven to contribute to the worsening of symptoms, and eventual hospitalization.”

The study is expected to begin April 15 and be completed at the end of August.

The Alberta-specific trial will be funded by a consortium including a $286,000 grant from the Government of Alberta.