Barts Health leading on trial to test drug that could reduce Covid-19 risk in diabetics
A team from Barts Health are leading on a national trial to test a new drug, called AZD1656, that could reduce the risk of people with diabetes becoming seriously ill from Covid-19.
According to NHS research, people living with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of dying with Covid-19 with a third of deaths in England associated with the condition.
The trial has been approved following new preclinical research that suggests AZD1656, a glucose kinase activator, could help people with diabetes by dampening down the overactive response of the immune system, typically acute in patients with raised blood glucose levels.
The immune system usually helps the body to fight against infections, however with the Covid-19 virus it can make the immune system go into overdrive and cause hyper-inflammation and cardio and respiratory complications.
Patients with diabetes at The Royal London Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital, who have mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms, will be offered the drug.
Dr Kieran McCafferty, Consultant Nephrologist at The Royal London Hospital, and Chief Investigator of the trial, said: “We know that the outcomes are worse for patients with diabetes who develop Covid and, as we see the number of infections rise again, it is vitally important that we explore all treatments that may help save lives.
“There has been a period of relative calm after the initial storm in the pandemic in terms of hospital admissions but we are obviously seeing a rise in cases that may result in greater numbers of people needing hospital treatment.
“If that happens, clinicians need all potential treatments at their disposal and from experience with this drug in treating over a thousand patients in the past it appears safe and effective in trials in reducing blood sugar levels that cause so many problems for patients.
“The UK is at the forefront of worldwide Covid-19 research and we believe this trial could make an important contribution in the treatment of Covid-19 diabetic patients.”
The trial is taking place at 15 hospitals across the country over the next four months, with hopes to recruit 150 patients.
The idea of investigating AZD1656 to reduce Covid-19 risk in patients with diabetes was developed by Professor John Martin and his team at St George Street, a UK-based biomedical research charity. The drug was originally developed for another use by Astra Zeneca, who have agreed to provide the drug for the trial.