On May 14, 2020 The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has fast-tracked the roll out of the global ‘Solidarity’ trial launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help find an effective treatment for COVID-19. The ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute(NARI) is the national coordination site for the trial in India. So far, 9 states have been approved to conduct randomised controlled clinical trials under Solidarity Trial.
Antiviral agents
Four potential antiviral agents evaluated during the trial in selected hospitals(including AIIMS in Jodhpur, Apollo Hospital in Chennai, the Ahmedabad-based B J Medical College and Civil Hospital, and the Chirayu Medical College and Hospital in Bhopal) are- Remdesivir, Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir-Ritonavir and Lopinavir-Ritonavir with Interferon (beta-1a).
Solidarity Trial
‘Solidarity’- is an international clinical trial to compare four treatment options against the standard of care to assess their relative effectiveness against COVID-19. Solidarity trial provides simplified procedures to enable even overloaded hospitals to participate
i.By enrolling patients in multiple countries, the trial aims to quickly discover whether any of the drugs reduces disease progression or improves survival. Importantly, the initiative provides for both speed and scale.
ii.The required regulatory and ethical approvals have been already obtained and clinical trial sites have started to recruit patients in the trial.
iii.Over 100 countries have requested participation to find effective therapeutics as soon as possible, by the trial.
Significance
The participation of multiple clinical trial units/hospitals in multiple countries will ensure adequate enrollment of participants in the shortest possible time, which help fast-track the identification of correct treatment options for COVID-19.
About NARI:
Headquarters– Pune, Maharashtra
Director– Samiran Panda
