A Multi-centre, Adaptive, Randomized, Open-label, Controlled Clinical Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Investigational Therapeutics for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Hospitalized patients (CATCO)

Currently there are no proven, effective therapies to treat COVID-19. But researchers around the world are working collaboratively to investigate and compare therapeutic agents that may combat the virus. As the Canadian arm of the World Health Organization's SOLIDARITY trial, CATCO is designed to evaluate potential therapeutics for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. By utilizing adaptive design, allowing for early stoppage of therapeutics which fail to show benefit and being able to introduce new candidate treatments as they become available, this research project aims to identify a treatment for COVID-19 that improves mortality compared to standard of care. Dr. Mah highlights that while the overall goal is to discover a successful treatment and contribute to the international advancement of knowledge, this project will also provide local patients access to potentially beneficial therapeutics and help build up research capacity and infrastructure in BC to respond to further challenges and future questions posed by the pandemic.