MEDICS at the Royal Bolton Hospital have made a huge breakthrough in the treatment of patients seriously ill from Covid.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has been taking part in groundbreaking trial in the battle against the virus since the start of the pandemic.
This week they made a significant discovering in identifying a life-saving drug for patients, which is normally used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Critical Care teams at the trust are taking part in two major research studies: GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) and the Recovery trial.
Initial data from the GenOMICC work predicted that the anti-inflammatory drug Baricitinib could improve the outcomes of coronavirus patients.
Bolton helps identify new life-saving COVID-19 treatment
A number of patients at Royal Bolton Hospital received the treatment as part of the Recovery trial to try and give them the very best chance of survival.
Vital research to help beat coronavirus is taking place at Royal Bolton Hospital
Recently published data has now revealed that Baricitinib is an effective treatment in the fight against COVID-19, alongside other treatments Dexamethasone and Tocilizumab.
Dr Gareth Hughes, Consultant in Intensive Care and Respiratory Medicine at the Trust, said: "As our daily lives return to a sense of ‘normal’, behind-the-scenes we’re working to ensure we continue to have the best defences against COVID-19.
"As the virus evolves, research and discoveries will help to reduce deaths, prevent people becoming seriously-ill or hospitalised, and ensure we can continue to get back to the things we love.
"It involves a large amount of work, so thank you to our research team, pharmacy team, nursing, and medical teams in COVID areas for supporting these studies.
"Their efforts mean our patients have received the best possible treatment and the research will allow patients in the UK and across the world to benefit from these therapies.
CORONAVIRUS: Royal Bolton Hospital recruits patient for trial in race to find treatment
In April of last year the hospital recruited its first patient to start a coronavirus recovery trial to examine different treatments for those who are in hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19.
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