Public urged to sign up for Covid drug trial
Over-50s and younger adults with underlying health conditions are being urged to participate in a study of life-saving treatments for COVID-19.
The study is open to those who test positive for Covid and had symptoms develop in the previous five days. Volunteers will be given pills to take at home.
The study will help decide how antiviral drugs will be used, Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid asked everyone eligible to "step forward" and "help us to learn more about medicines which could save thousands of lives".
Antivirals were "part of our approach as we learn to live with Covid, by preventing the most vulnerable from being hospitalised", he said.
The UK regulator has licensed both for treating Covid, with molnupiravir the first to be given the green light, in November. Both have completed clinical trials and shown promising results at reducing the risk of serious illness or death.
Launched in December, it already has 4,500 people signed up but needs 6,000 more as soon as possible.
You can sign up at the study website now or your GP may contact you to ask you to participate if you test positive for Covid.
Source: BBC News, 25 January 2022