Larger study to test combination treatment for COVID-19

Researchers are pulling out all the stops to find treatments and cures for patients exposed to COVID-19. And now a larger study at UW Medicine is enrolling participants to determine whether a treatment combining a low dose of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can prevent hospitalization and death in people with COVID-19.

Dr. Ann Collier, professor of medicine in the Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the Univerisity of Washington School of Medicine, is the local PI for a study funded by the National Institutes of Health looking to enroll 2,000 outpatients at sites across the country who have tested positive for COVID-19.

This study is separate from a smaller treatment trial at UW Medicine enrolling 630 patients exposed to COVID-19 using the same regimen. Researchers say the two studies are complimentary. In normal times, researchers said one study would be launched before a larger study. But because of the time-sensitive need for answers, a larger study is being launched simultaneously. The smaller study will provide more insight into the virology of the virus. And the larger trial will provide definitive clinical outcomes data.

To enroll, call or text 206-773-7129 or email [email protected]. 

Hydroxychloroquine has received considerable hype as a potential treatment for COVID-19 and has been confused with chloroquine, a drug stopped in a treatment trial in Brazil. There is conflicting evidence on whether it works, which is why stronger evidence is needed. The hydroxychloroquine dose used in these studies has been used safely by many people for decades to prevent malaria and other sicknesses.

Multiple studies in different populations are taking place at UW Medicine to answer the critical question on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine.

Downloadable resources for media:

• Soundbites with Dr. Ann Collier
• Web-embeddable video with Dr. Ann Collier
• Soundbites audio only
• Soundbite log

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