FPM welcomes the launch of the ACCORD clinical trials platform

Commenting on the launch of the ACCORD platform, Professor Tim Higenbottam, President of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, said:

“The endeavour to start comparative studies for COVID-19 pneumonia is greatly welcomed. The principal Investigator is Prof Tom Wilkinson, who achieved much and shortened the time to implementation. This announcement is timely as it will facilitate much needed further studies. We are realising that COVID-19 pneumonia is an unusual illness with extensive vascular pathology especially, but not exclusively, in the lungs. New methods of assisting breathing will also be needed.”

 

Dr Gillies O’Bryan-Tear, Chair of Policy and Communications at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, welcomed the announcement on the ACCORD initiative by the Department of Health and Social Care today:

“This initiative, in which our world leading UK based life sciences industry is working with academic leaders and the UK government to rapidly test new medicines against Covid-19, is very welcome. It is important not only that these studies are rapidly set up, but also that the studies are robustly designed to ensure that they provide meaningful readouts on the efficacy and safety of these new agents. This collaboration between UK experts in drug discovery and development, and our leading clinical academics, will ensure that this happens. The UK is uniquely positioned to make a major contribution to the global effort to contain and ultimately abolish this viral pandemic.”

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