Chattanooga native leading a Covid-19 clinical trial

We talk to the Chattanooga native who is leading the clinical trial for a drug being tested now for treating Covid-19 cases

Thousand dollar bond.

Doctors and scientists are hard at work to find a treatment for the coronavirus.

News 12's joeli poole spoke with one of those scientists, from chattanooga, who's leading this new study.

A clinical trial out of san diego is being conducted by a native of chattanooga, dr. davey smith.

The trial is evaluating whether two drugs, hydroxychloroq uine and azithromycin- when used in combination, can prevent hospitalizations and deaths from covid-19.

According to dr. smith, hydroxychloroquine is used to treat malaria and the antibiotic azithromycin is most often used for sinus infections or strep.

Davey smith / national lead for clinical trial "both of these potentially have an effect on the coronavirus.

It messes up its life cycle and how the virus can get into a cell.

There is some evidence that it might work but it really hasn't been tested in a very rigorous way."

Dr. smith is leading this nationwide clinical testing and says the best way to determine if the treatment really works is to conduct a very widespread extensive trial.

Smith" it needs to be on a trial.

It needs to be randomized and it needs to be blinded.

It needs to have a control on it.

That's what we call a placebo, which is basically sugar pills.

People won't know which one they are getting, the investigators don't know which one they are getting.

Only the statisticians who are looking at the date in an unblinded way will know.

This is very rigorous but it's the best way to see if the treatment works or not."

The trial consists of 2,000 adults at 31 sites spread across the united states and participants of the trial must have active covid-19.

The participants will receive the medications to take orally at home, will have to keep a record of their symptoms and any major events resulting, such as hospitalization.

Dr. davey smith, who grew up in hamilton county and graduated from utc says it is an honor to be a part of this team- a team that has committed to working as long and hard as it takes to find the right cure.

Smith "once we have a treatment, whether it's this one or something else; we put that out into the clinic.

Doctors would be using it in a way we know that would work.

Then, my job is to go find the