A Manchester man has become the first UK patient to be given an experimental arthritis drug in a clinical trial to treat severe Covid-19.
Farhan Hamid, 41, is in intensive care at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
He has received a dose of otilimab – which is under investigation as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis – in hopes that this drug could also ease the effects of Covid-19.
The trial at the Manchester hospital is led by Dr Andy Martin. He said: ‘The patients eligible to take part in this study are those experiencing very severe lung difficulties due to Covid-19 and are receiving oxygen or ventilator support.
‘We are conducting this study to see whether otilimab – which is under investigation as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis – could also ease the effect of coronavirus on the lungs, dampening the impact of the virus on the immune system.’
Oscar is funded by UK-based pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, which aims to recruit 800 patients globally for the study. Trials are also under way in the US and results are expected in the first half of 2021.
