Tulane is set to study whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to help prevent people who’ve been exposed to coronavirus from developing COVID-19.
Tulane School of Medicine Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Kissinger says the treatment has shown promise, but it needs to be proven in a human clinical trial.
“in animal models this medication can slow the growth of the growth of the virus and slows the lifecycle, it disallows the virus to enter into the cells,” said Kissinger.
Kissinger says if you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case, and you’re interested, they’ll have you do a telemedicine conference, then tell you what you need to do.
“We send them the medication through a courier, and then some swabs. They swab their nose for 14 days and then at day 28,” said Kissinger.
Tulane hopes to enroll 500 local participants.
Kissinger says the treatment is much like prophylactics given to those exposed to HIV, and it could be a vital tool once contact tracing becomes more widespread.
“Potentially if this randomized trial works we can give people who are contacts of COVID positive people this medication to prevent them from getting the infection,” said Kissinger.
The trial is part of a nationwide effort with other sites in Baltimore, Washington, New York City, Boston, and LA.
If you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case and want to participate, call (504) 289-4076 or visit www.covid19pepstudy.org.
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