A Perth respiratory professor has warned that health officials “desperately need” COVID-19 treatments as well as the vaccine.
Prof James Chalmers, the British Lung Foundation chair of respiratory research, is currently trialling a COVID treatment with a team at the University of Dundee.
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He told the PA he has never seen anything like it in terms of how rapidly the study is being done.
Prof Chalmers said: “We had over 300 patients in two and a half months. I have never seen anything like it. It would normally take two years.”
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The STOP-COVID19 trial is being done across Scotland with the bulk of volunteers being in Dundee, Fife and Forth Valley.
Prof Chalmers said: “The huge surge in hospital admissions for COVID over the last couple of months means that treatment trials are rapidly completing, because so many patients have agreed to participate and so many patients are unfortunately eligible.
“This is because we have a lot of very sick people being admitted.
“Our teams in Tayside and around the country are working round the clock to offer treatments to every patient that wants to participate. We desperately need new treatments to improve the outcomes for the sickest patients in hospital.”
He added: “I must say the people of Perthshire, Tayside and Fife have been extraordinary - more than 150 people with severe COVID in just this small part of Scotland have now participated in COVID treatment trials since September.
“I can’t remember the last time a patient declined to participate.
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“Everyone, even in their worst moments wants to do everything they can to help us beat the virus.
“Our patients are really amazing.”
