Clinical trials for Covid-19 treatment well under way at Northwell Health

The Northwell Health medical system, with hospitals throughout the greater New York metropolitan area, has conducted clinical trials for a possible treatment for Covid-19 since March 18, and an effort that began with two patients now involves hundreds.

That’s according to Dr. Christina Brennan, vice president of clinical research at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset.

Brennan sat down with video producer Rob Hoell for a Facebook Live interview Thursday in which she discussed the ongoing clinical trials that Northwell is engaged in.

She noted Northwell was among the first health systems in the nation to undertake clinical trials for a treatment. Locally, trials are taking place at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. 

Early on, Feinstein Institutes researchers teamed up with Gilead Sciences and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to identify potential treatments for Covid-19 patients who are hospitalized with moderate to severe conditions. The goal, according to a Northwell release, is "to improve recovery and speed discharge from hospitals."

Brennan said this week Northwell also undertook an additional study to gauge the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that has been touted often by President Trump.

With Gilead, the Feinstein Institutes is examining the safety and effectiveness of remdesivir (RDV), an investigational antiviral drug, to reduce the intensity and duration of Covid-19 in hospitalized patients. 

RDV, Northwell officials said, has "demonstrated positive effects" on other viruses such as MERS and SARS.  

The trial with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which now involves 216 patients, is examining the safety and efficacy of sarilumab, a human antibody that may help prevent severe pneumonia in some Covid-19 patients. It is normally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Brennan said.   

 “We’re really excited about the three opportunities and more to come of the trials,” she said.

Northwell is not engaged in clinical trials to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, she noted.

Brennan could not say for certain how long development of a treatment drug or drugs would take, and if any of the drugs now in trials would ultimately be proven effective.  

Patients’ participation in all clinical trials is voluntary. Daily, Brennan said, clinical researchers are feeding data back to the pharmaceutical companies involved in the trials, and the companies are analyzing that information. When a sufficient data set is amassed, the companies will then approach the Food and Drug Administration for possible approvals.

Northwell physicians on “the front lines” are selecting patients for the trials with Feinstein researchers. There are many more requests to enter the trials than can be met, Brennan said.

“It can be tough as investigators,” she said. “You so desperately want to help patients and find the right treatment for them.”

Brennan said, however, “We’re seeing more discharges daily from our clinical trials, so we’re hopeful.”

Speaking of the clinical researchers, Hoell said, “You guys are, to my mind, the unsung heroes … Every day we get closer and closer to maybe finding out what’s going to work and what’s going to knock out this virus.”

Brennan did say clinical research appears to substantiate anecdotal evidence from physicians in the field that Covid-19 is potentially more deadly for older adults and those with pre-existing medical conditions, and that anyone, of any age, can be infected and suffer its effects, including older teenagers.

She emphasized the need for social distancing at the moment.

To watch the full discussion, click here.