Will the Welsh Government explain the extent of research and testing into pharmaceutical interventions for SARS-CoV-2 treatment and prevention in Wales, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, including what safeguards are in place for patients involved in any such tests?
Health and Care Research Wales are working closely with NHS organisations in Wales and with partners across the four nations in the UK on a coordinated programme of research, including testing pharmaceutical interventions for SARS-COV-2 treatments and prevention.
The inclusion of Ivermectin in the PRINCIPLE trial will generate robust evidence to determine how effective the treatment is against COVID-19, and whether there are benefits or harms associated with its use.
The inclusion of Hydroxychloroquine in the RECOVERY trial has shown that Hydroxychloroquine is not an effective treatment in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 which therefore allows us to focus care and research on more promising drugs.
All clinical trials are required to meet strict regulatory requirements. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and approving applications for clinical trials using registered or unregistered investigational products (IPs).
In addition, the Health Research Authority provides ethical review for all clinical trials and checks that patients and healthy volunteers taking part in clinical trials and other research are protected. Expert committees look at participant-facing aspects of the trials such as how they are recruited, what information they receive and how they can join or withdraw from the trial.
Further information about Health and Care Research Wales, including the COVID-19 research studies underway across Wales, can be accessed here:
COVID-19 research in Wales | Health Care Research Wales (healthandcareresearchwales.org)