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A small dose Morphine capsules could give sense of freedom to chronic breathlessness patients
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ow-dose, extended release morphine capsules may be able to help people with chronic breathlessness get back in the driver’s seat, according to new research from Flinders University.
SGS enrols first patient into Covid-19 trial
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GS has enrolled the first patient into its clinical trial designed to examine the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a potential drug candidate for people suffering with Covid-19 related respiratory failure. The testing laboratory was selected by French biotech Biophytis to conduct a clinical trial into the drug candidate Sarconeos (BIO101). The trial will recruit around 50 patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, as well as having developed severe respiratory symptoms in the previous seven days. They must have obvious Covid-19 symptoms – e.g. pneumonia and oxygen distress – but cannot have been reliant on high-flow oxygen use or assisted ventilation during the previous 28days.
Steven Thys, SGS’ director of Global Clinical Operations said: “As the whole world faces up to the challenge of finding effective treatments for Covid-19 we are pleased to announce the first patient has been successfully enrolled into the COVA Study. In the coming weeks, we may see more patients entering the study as more sites from different countries will join the study.” “Biophytis’ decision to choose SGS as its partner in the COVA Study is testament to our considerable expertise as a contract research organisation with proficiency in the field of infectious diseases. Together, we have worked intensively to set up this study in a remarkably efficient timeframe.”
Australia has become the first country in the world to approve regular, low-dose, sustained-release morphine capsules for the treatment of chronic breathlessness. A team at Flinders University connected to the Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative (PaCCSC) interviewed chronic breathlessness patients and their caregivers to learn what activities they could pursue if their condition was better controlled.
A paper released by the researchers supports the use of regular, low-dose, sustainedrelease morphine to help people with chronic breathlessness perform tasks such as driving. The research found that the introduction of the capsules had no self-reported impact on driving. However, the team states that further work in regard to safety is still being conducted. The research could benefit the 300,000 people across Australia who suffer from the condition – especially the 75,000 who are housebound and limited in their daily activities. “Driving is a particularly valued part of most people’s lives and
helps to maintain a sense of normality and independence when there are lots of losses as people experience a life-limiting illness,” says professor David Currow, who leads PaCCSC. “Any therapy that could reduce the sensation of chronic breathlessness safely is beneficial in optimising such things as driving and will be very beneficial to these patients.” “As the population ages, more people will experience chronic breathlessness as a result of emphysema, heart failure and cancer. Finding ways to reduce breathlessness will help to reduce suffering across our community,” he says.
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