This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
Published on May 5, 2020, researchers at Kenyatta National Hospital are preparing to conduct clinical trials for three possible Covid-19 drugs.
The drugs in question are Remdesivir, an antiretroviral drug approved by the US FDA for emergency Covid-19 treatment, hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug, and Lopinavir/ritonavir, used to treat HIV patients.
Principal investigator Dr. Loice Achieng Ombajo explained that the clinical trials will involve randomly allocating patients to receive one of the three drugs and observing their response.
Dr. Ombajo emphasized that participants in the medical investigation will be well-informed and their confidentiality protected.
The researchers have already obtained ethics approval from the University of Nairobi and are awaiting final approval from the Poisons and Pharmacies Board and the National Council of Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).
Community engagement is also a crucial step in the process, with the researchers planning to explain the trials to potential participants and obtain their informed consent.
Dr. Ombajo reassured Kenyans that the clinical trials will be conducted with the utmost care and respect for participants' rights and confidentiality.
