Worcester Hospital Approved For Coronavirus Drug Testing Trial

WORCESTER, MASS — University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center is one of three hospitals in the state to get approval to launch the first clinical trial of a Japanese flu drug in the United States that could be used to treat coronavirus, the Boston Globe reported on Tuesday. The trial was approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday and will be used to study the antiviral drug favipiravir and its effectiveness in treating coronavirus, doctors involved in the study told The Globe.

The other sites two where testing has been approved is at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brighton and Women’s Hospital. According to The Globe, the Japanese government has touted the drug, which is known by its brand name Avigan, which, government officials in Japan said, has proven “clearly effective” in treating coronavirus patients after two clinical studies.

The Globe reported that initial testing at the three sites in the state will involve 50 or 60 patients. The report stated that one group of patients would receive the drug along with the normal level of care currently being given to coronavirus cases while a second group would continue to receive the same level of care they have been provided.

Dr. Keith T. Flaherty, who is leading the team of experts at Mass General, told The Globe that his team has currently evaluated about 30 possible trials for the hospital to consider participating and that the trial involving flavipiravir “absolutely rose to the top” and is currently the one of the top priorities the hospital is undertaking.