Re: RECOVERY trial or Tri-Z should be the UK covid-19 study resetting expectations for clinical trials
Dear Editor
I read this article with interest. It appears that for a large problem we need a large solution. So the RECOVERY trial is the largest of its kind, i.e. cost and patients numbers. It also appears that large problems can only be solved by large institutions or large companies. However, the fact is that these projects are developed by individuals who happened to be in large settings. This leaves individuals in small companies that have been working on respiratory RNA virus, including Coronavirus, out on their own.
It was reported by one of these small companies that they produced a new drug made of combination of Trimethoprim and zinc (Tri-Z). The mechanism of action was diverse acting on the host, thus overcoming the potential mutations of these RNA viruses. Although trimethoprim and zinc are well known and the combination showed good response for influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory Syncytial virus, that simple solution is not acceptable for large problems like a pandemic. We experienced good response with Tri-Z against COVID-19 and none of the patients needed hospital admission. Setting up a trial is more than just challenging.. Perhaps, policy makers need to facilitate for such small organisations to receive funding to develop and sort out large problems like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Re: RECOVERY trial or Tri-Z should be the UK covid-19 study resetting expectations for clinical trials
Dear Editor
I read this article with interest. It appears that for a large problem we need a large solution. So the RECOVERY trial is the largest of its kind, i.e. cost and patients numbers. It also appears that large problems can only be solved by large institutions or large companies. However, the fact is that these projects are developed by individuals who happened to be in large settings. This leaves individuals in small companies that have been working on respiratory RNA virus, including Coronavirus, out on their own.
It was reported by one of these small companies that they produced a new drug made of combination of Trimethoprim and zinc (Tri-Z). The mechanism of action was diverse acting on the host, thus overcoming the potential mutations of these RNA viruses. Although trimethoprim and zinc are well known and the combination showed good response for influenza, rhinovirus and respiratory Syncytial virus, that simple solution is not acceptable for large problems like a pandemic. We experienced good response with Tri-Z against COVID-19 and none of the patients needed hospital admission. Setting up a trial is more than just challenging.. Perhaps, policy makers need to facilitate for such small organisations to receive funding to develop and sort out large problems like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elhabbal M. Zn/Trimethoprim combination therapy. International publication number: WO 2009/109531 (11.09.2009 Gazette 2009/37) therapy. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6f/ee/f3/555aad40853f57/EP22...
Competing interests: No competing interests