LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A clinical trial is studying whether a decades-old drug called colchicine could reduce the risk of coronavirus patients developing serious symptoms. It’s called the COLCORONA COVID-19 clinical trial and is funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It looks at whether colchicine, which is commonly used to treat gout, a form of arthritis, could be the answer to preventing serious coronavirus symptoms.
“It has very potent anti-inflammatory properties and it also has unique properties that may prevent the actual COVID-19 infecting cells in the body, particularly the heart cells and the lung cells,” said Dr. Lepor, Director of Clinical Research for Westside Medical Associates of Los Angeles and the COLCORONA lead clinical trial investigator for Los Angeles.
He said as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out, case rates and hospitalizations are still on the rise. The clinical trial focuses on treating the virus early on, before someone lands in a hospital. “If you end up having your condition get to the point of needing a hospitalization, your mortality rate is between 5% and 40% depending on your age so this disease is serious stuff,” Dr. Lepor said.
He said the 30-day clinical trial is contactless, allowing patients to participate from the comfort of their own home. A courier services delivers the colchicine, which comes in a pill form. Dr. Lepor said he is still looking for more participants who are over 40-years-old, must have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis within two days, and not currently in a hospital.
For more information, visit www.colcorona.net or call 877-536-6837. The trial is free to participate in.