A province-wide trial will investigate the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in preventing hospitalization for people at the highest risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19.
The Alberta Hope COVID-19 study will recruit 1,600 Albertans to determine whether a prescribed five-day treatment of HCQ can prevent hospitalization for those at highest risk of developing a severe illness.
Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health, said: “As we’ve learned from other countries, hospital systems can become overwhelmed by those infected with the virus who need critical care.
"Our goal is to reduce the risk of severe disease experienced by individuals and reduce the burden on the health-care system by helping people recover from the effects of the virus at home.”
The clinical trial is being led by University of Calgary and University of Alberta researchers, with support from the Alberta government, Alberta Health Services and its Strategic Clinical Networks, Calgary Health Trust, Alberta Innovates and the University of Calgary/Alberta Health Services Clinical Research Fund.
Alberta Health Services will obtain permission from people with positive COVID-19 tests to provide their contact information to Alberta Hope COVID-19 study researchers. Consenting participants will be screened for safety and eligibility.
Kathryn Todd, vice-president of Provincial Clinical Excellence for Alberta Health Services, said: “Clinical trials like this will give healthcare professionals more evidence to determine how best to care for patients.
"AHS is rallying alongside its academic partners at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta to help leverage research in the response to this global pandemic.”
HCQ is originally an anti-malarial drug currently used mostly for immunological disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Laboratory studies suggest it may be helpful against COVID-19.
Luanne Metz, study lead, and professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, said: “We will be targeting Albertans who are at risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19.
"Those include people over 18, living independently, who have an underlying medical condition which has proven to contribute to the worsening of symptoms, and eventual hospitalization.”
