Clinical trials for COVID-19 prevention pill underway in Tucson

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Researchers in Tucson are investigating whether a pill could possibly prevent you from getting COVID-19.

Dr. Anita Kohli, director of clinical research at Arizona Clinical Trials, said four studies are ongoing. She said a COVID-19 antiviral drug is readily available and a game changer in the fight against COVID-19.

“These drugs would be easy to store, easy to distribute, things you could pick up at your local pharmacy as opposed to IV drugs, subcutaneous injections, so much easier,” said Kohli.

Researchers also work in Mesa.

Kohli said patients who have been exposed to or have developed COVID will be the focus of the study. Researchers are investigating whether antiviral drugs can help COVID-19 patients recover faster and keep them out of the hospital.

“The molnupiravir antibodies, some of which already have an emergency approval for COVID, are already available for emergency use in the hospital,” said Kohli. “These are already available in some emergency rooms and in our practice for the treatment of COVID. These have already shown reductions in symptoms, hospitalizations and deaths, but that can only be done intravenously or subcutaneously. “

You can participate if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 in the past five days or someone you live with has tested positive in the past three days. They must be unvaccinated and they will later be given a drug or placebo.

Kohli said they hope the process will only take about nine months, but time will tell.

“Some of the molnupiravir antibodies examined last summer were approved for emergencies in the spring. So in nine months we have moved from the early stages of studies to emergency response, ”said Kohli. “That practically never happens in emergency medicine, so we hope it will happen that quickly.”

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