Chloroquine Research Program to Help in COVID-19 Treatment

The authors of the research program on the effect of chloroquine in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are experts in the field of clinical trials and infectious diseases from the Wroclaw Medical University.

In addition to the university in Wrocław, research will also be conducted in several other centres in Poland, including centres in Poznań and in Łódź. The program is financed by the Medical Research Agency.

Acting rector of the Wroclaw Medical University Professor Piotr Ponikowski emphasized that in recent weeks more and more people infected with coronavirus were in home quarantine or isolation rooms, and in most cases the course of the disease was mild.

'But in 20-25 percent patients we can expect more severe symptoms, including pneumonia and respiratory failure, which may require ventilator treatment in an intensive care unit. We know from experience in other countries that people at risk of a severe course are the elderly and those with chronic lung and heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease. To all those who participate in our therapeutic program, we offer a solution that, we hope, will reduce the risk of complications from the virus infection', Ponikowski says.

400 people are expected to participate in the study. The first patient was qualified this week. According to Professor Piotr Ponikowski, people qualified for the study will receive a home delivery of equipment for monitoring vital functions: a thermometer, a blood pressure monitor, a device for measuring saturation. The results of the measurements that patients will take will be analysed at the university's telemedicine centre.

'In addition, to half of the patients selected at random we will propose 14-day treatment with chloroquine. It is a drug used for several dozen years in the prevention and treatment of malaria and in the treatment of rheumatic diseases', the professor says.

He adds that Wrocław scientists have reason to believe that in patients infected with COVID-19, chloroquine may be effective in preventing the development of pneumonia, respiratory complications, including the need for treatment in intensive care units.

'But we are not certain at this point and that is why there is an urgent need to conduct such a study', says Ponikowski.

The research program was launched in two weeks. Research coordinators Professor Ewa Jankowska and Professor Brygida Knysz from the Wroclaw Medical University emphasize that formal issues were resolved at an unprecedented speed in cooperation with other centres and the necessary equipment was purchased.

'All participants had to receive standardized devices, for example, we imported thermometers from Shanghai. Thanks to the good will and effort of many people, we have everything we need and we could start the study', emphasises Professor Ewa Jankowska.

The study will be conducted in cooperation of a team of physicians specialising in infectious diseases at the Wroclaw Medical University with Professor Brygida Knysz, Professor Leszek Szenborn and Professor Krzysztof Simon.

The first conclusions from the research program are expected in a few weeks. (PAP)

Author: Piotr Doczekalski

pdo/ joz/ kap/

tr. RL