Covid-19 patient in Hull given groundbreaking treatment to reduce risk of developing severe disease

Alexandra Constantin, 34, who was admitted on Monday with the virus, was given a nebuliser to breathe in interferon beta as a mist.

The drug, known as SNG001, is designed to boost the lungs’ antiviral defences, enabling patients to recover faster and fight off a more severe form of the disease.

Patients will be shown how to administer the once-a-day therapy themselves at home, allowing them to continue the treatment after they are discharged from hospital.

It was developed at Southampton University Hospital and is being developed by the pharmaceutical company Synairgen.

Hull took part in phase two of the trials involving 100 patients, during the first wave of the pandemic, and now by recruiting the first patient for phase three of the trials.

Early findings suggested that hospital patients who took the drug had a 79 per cent lower risk of developing severe disease.

Consultant Respiratory Physician Dr Michael Crooks, principal investigator for the trial in Hull, said: “Hull is at the forefront of studying new treatments for Covid 19 and we are currently taking part in a number of trials of potential new therapies.

“The dedication and commitment of our researcher teams mean we are able to offer patients access to potential new treatments against this terrible disease.

“We are hopeful this trial will confirm the effectiveness of inhaled Interferon Beta in helping people recover from the virus and preventing them developing severe disease.”

Interferon Beta is a protein which occurs naturally in the body to fight off viruses and is known to be reduced in people with severe Covid 19.

Respiratory research nurse Suzanna Thackeray-Nocera administered the treatment to Ms Constantin, watched by research nurses Kayleigh Brindle and Rachel Flockton.

Staff on ward 38, one of the hospital’s specialist units caring for Covid-19 patients, will continue to monitor her closely until she is well enough to go home.