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A Manchester coronavirus patient has become the first in the UK to receive an experimental arthritis drug to counter the severe effects of the virus.
Farhan Hamid, 41, South Manchester, she has been given a dose of otilimab, a drug currently under investigation as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
He is currently in intensive care at Manchester Royal Infirmary and was recruited to participate in the trial on September 11.
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Funded by the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the research aims to establish whether otilimab can treat severe lung disease developed as a result of COVID-19.
The Department of Health and Social Care has granted GSK urgent public health investigation status to help find a coronavirus treatment with vaccines or medications.
The NHS Foundation at the University of Manchester is currently leading the trial, but the researchers say they want to implement it in 800 patients in five UK hospitals.
Participants will be randomized into two groups: half will receive a single infusion of otilimab for one hour and the other will receive intravenous placebo therapy, in addition to standard care.
Dr Tim Felton, Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester and clinical leader of all coronavirus-related studies at the Trust hospital, said: “The primary goal of this study is for participants to be alive and free of lung failure after 28 days, so this research can save lives. “
Christopher Corsico, GSK Senior Vice President of Development, added: “We know that some COVID-19 patients experience an overreaction of their immune system, sometimes known as a cytokine storm, which can lead to hospitalization or death.
“We believe that the product could help counteract or calm this process.”
The results of the study are expected in the first half of 2021.
