One of only two sites in state involved in study
Clarity Clinical Research in East Syracuse is launching a study involving a new treatment for people who were exposed (or potentially exposed) to COVID-19 to test the medication’s ability to reduce the risk of becoming infected for those living in long term care facilities. Clarity Clinical Research in East Syracuse is one of only two sites in all of New York State for this study.
The new drug is a post-exposure prophylactic – meaning it is given after exposure – for the management of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in elderly residents of long-term care facilities. The active ingredient in this new drug was initially created as anti-parasitic and is already FDA approved for acute viral respiratory illnesses. It has been used to treat an estimated 400 million people worldwide, which means the safety performance and side effects of this drug are already known.
Plans for clinical trials of this drug were announced in late April.
The study is currently available exclusively to medically-approved residents at four of Loretto’s locations: The Bernardine, Sedgwick Heights, Buckley Landing and The Nottingham. Residents at these facilities tend to have the highest levels of independence and can meet the study’s requirements, including medical decisions and diary keeping.
Starting Monday, June 8, Clarity Clinical Research began monitoring at these locations for residents who show symptoms, as well as discussing the research with residents. If a resident does show symptoms, the research team will then begin screening patients within the facility to determine who will qualify to participate in the study.
The benefit of this study is that it only requires one person to test positive for COVID-19, because that allows Clarity Clinical Research to open up participation in this trial with all residents at the facility who may have been exposed to the individual who tested positive. Eligibility does not require every participant to test positive for COVID-19.
