The Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) + Bayer Canada Inc. announced plans to launch a major clinical research program aimed at identifying potential COVID-19 treatments.

The Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) and Bayer Canada Inc. announced plans to immediately launch a major clinical research program aimed at identifying potential COVID-19 treatments. The two studies will evaluate the safety and efficacy of different combination therapies including Bayer’s chloroquine and interferon beta-1b. The research will comprise two studies, including an outpatient study testing the combination of chloroquine with the antibiotic azithromycin to see if it can prevent health deterioration that leads to hospitalization. The second study will combine those two agents with interferon beta-1b (Bayer’s Betaseron) to see if the triple combination can prevent disease progression to intensive care, mechanical ventilation assistance or death.

Bayer produces chloroquine phosphate (trade name: Resochin), which is approved in some countries outside of Canada for use in malaria and some other illnesses. The Chinese health authorities have included chloroquine in the treatment recommendations for COVID-19. Subsequently, many other health authorities, such as the FDA, have adopted similar guidance for supervised emergency use of chloroquine outside of the established indications. As peer-reviewed and published clinical data are currently not available for chloroquine in the COVID-19 treatment setting, Bayer is working with researchers, governments and front-line practitioners to support generation and exchange of data to help to close this knowledge gap.