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UK rolls out world’s largest trial of Covid-19 treatments

News comes as Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency warns against fake or unlicensed medicines

The world’s largest randomised clinical trial of potential coronavirus treatments is underway in the UK.

Almost 1,000 adult patients from 132 hospitals have been recruited to join the £2.1 million Randomised Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy trial, known as RECOVERY, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on 3 April.

The trial—which is funded by UK Research and Innovation and the health department through the National Institute for Health Research—is testing a number of medicines recommended by an expert panel advising Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England.

They include lopinavir-ritonavir, which is commonly used to treat HIV; dexamethasone, a type of steroid used to reduce inflammation; and hydroxychloroquine, a treatment for malaria.

The trial is being coordinated by researchers at the University of Oxford led by Peter Horby, a professor of emerging infectious diseases and global health and Martin Landray, a professor of medicine and epidemiology.

“The UK is leading the way on research in the race to find treatments and we have now launched the largest trial in the world, pooling resources with our world-leading life science sector,” said health secretary Matt Hancock.

“As one of three major trials funded by the government, this marks a major milestone in our battle against coronavirus and offers renewed hope that together we can beat this.”

Meanwhile, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency announced on 4 April that it was investigating 14 cases of fake or unlicensed Covid-19 medical products, including self-testing kits, “miracle cures”, “antiviral misting sprays” and unlicensed medicines.

The agency has now disabled nine domain names and social media accounts and is warning potential consumers of the dangers of fake or unauthorised products.

“There is no medicine licensed specifically to treat or prevent Covid-19, therefore any claiming to do so are not authorised and have not undergone regulatory approvals required for sale on the UK market,” said Lynda Scammell, an MHRA enforcement official.

“We cannot guarantee the safety or quality of the product and this poses a risk to your health. The risk of buying medicines and medical devices from unregulated websites are that you just don’t know what you will receive and could be putting your health at risk.”