Study Available For Adults Living With Someone Recently Diagnosed With COVID-19

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, there continues to be a surge of cases in parts of the United States.

Many of these cases may occur when people catch the virus in their communities and bring it home, where it can spread to other members of their household. Some doctors are currently enrolling individuals for a clinical study to determine whether an investigational oral medicine may be able to help prevent that household transmission. Clinical studies are research studies performed with volunteers that aim to evaluate if investigational treatments are safe and effective for people.

"There is a continuing need to investigate new therapies to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19," said Dr. Fabian Sandoval, president & CEO of the Emerson Clinical Research Institute. "In particular, we need to focus on people living with SARSCoV-2-infected individuals because they're at higher risk of becoming infected and continuing the spread due to their close proximity to these individuals for extended periods of time."

Unvaccinated adults living with someone who is symptomatic and recently tested positive for COVID-19 may be able to enroll in a clinical study, called MOVeAHEAD, which is evaluating an investigational oral antiviral medicine to help prevent COVID-19 infection within households.

The MOVe-AHEAD clinical study is being conducted at over 50 sites across the U.S. To take part in the study, individuals must be 18 years or older and cannot have confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Individuals are not eligible to participate if they have received a COVID-19 vaccine or have previously had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additionally, potential study participants must live with an adult or child who:

* Tested positive for COVID-19 in the last five days; and * Currently has at least one symptom of COVID-19, such as fever or difficulty breathing

For a household to qualify for the study, there can be only one household member with symptoms of COVID-19 and a positive test. Other criteria apply.

Once accepted, participants will be in the study for up to 35 days and have six visits to the clinic, with one of the visits being virtual by telephone. Those enrolled in the study will receive study-related care at no cost and may receive reimbursement for study-related time and travel. "Through this clinical study, people have an opportunity to potentially help uncover new medicines that may help prevent COVID-19 transmission."

For more information on this clinical study, visit CovidMoveAhead.com.

This sponsored article is presented by Merck.

Source: BPT