Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia will lead a world first trial to test the effectiveness of the drug interferon in stopping outbreaks of COVID-19 by reducing the infectiousness of people who contract the virus.
The CoCo Study (Containing Coronavirus) has been made possible through a $2.665 million donation from BHP’s Vital Resources Fund.
The Kids Research Institute Australia Director Professor Jonathan Carapetis said BHP’s support would enable researchers to develop a potentially powerful weapon against the spread of the virus.
“People infected with this novel coronavirus have been known to shed virus and be contagious for up to 5 days prior to developing symptoms and for weeks after onset of symptoms, which is likely to be a major driver of the pandemic,” Professor Carapetis said.
“This trial focuses on containing the virus by administering a type of interferon to infected cases and their contacts to reduce viral shedding, particularly from those with no symptoms, or prior to the onset of symptoms.
“We want to see whether administering interferon to those positive cases and those who have been recently exposed to a case could possibly stop the spread of the virus and, with that, the pandemic.”
The CoCo trial will be led by The Kids paediatric infectious diseases physician Professor Tobias Kollmann (who is generously co-funded by the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation) and Respiratory specialist Professor Stephen Stick. Researchers from WA, NSW and Queensland will work together to recruit 260 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and their direct contacts.
An exploratory study by Professor Kollmann and collaborators in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China (the original epicentre of the current pandemic) found that interferon therapy reduced the duration that a patient was infectious.
“The timing of this study is perfect,” Professor Carapetis said. “As we start to ease restrictions, we expect there to be more chance of pocket outbreaks.
“As the CoCo trial is focused on reducing viral transmission, this will give us an additional strategy, over and above quarantining and isolation, to stop outbreaks before they begin. This in turn will help prepare Australia, and the rest of the world, for other pockets of outbreaks as they too start to carefully lift restrictions.”
BHP WA Iron Ore Acting Asset President Tim Day said: “BHP’s $50m Vital Resources Fund aims to support organisations and programs in the areas of health, education and community resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Research into how to stop the spread of the virus has the potential to benefit communities across the globe and BHP is proud to support The Kids Research Institute Australia with this important study.”
Interferon is a naturally occurring protein that is known to boost the immune system and help the body fight infection. The drug will be given via injection and is commonly used to treat people with multiple sclerosis.
“The challenge now is to design an effective, locally targeted and easily deployable intervention that reduces spread when new infections occur, and with that minimise the negative health and economic impacts on the nation,” Professor Carapetis said. “We believe the CoCo trial could meet this challenge.”
With one shot, you’re protected, is the goal.
The study is expected to start later this month.