New COVID-19 Treatment for People With Diabetes Shows Early Promise

Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Credit: NIAID RML

A new Covid-19 treatment for people with diabetes has shown promising results in a trial led by UCL researchers.

The trial was conducted by St George Street Capital (SGSc) – a medical research charity – with the aim of finding new uses, where there is a real clinical need, for drugs that have already passed the security checks

Four years ago, professors John Martin (UCL Division of Medicine) and Pete Coffey (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology) co-founded the charity with an American philanthropist to test new drugs. They focused on a number of drugs that have been shown to be safe in Phase I clinical trials that were discontinued by the pharmaceutical industry, but may still be useful for other purposes.

In the past year, SGSc has tested a drug (AZD1656) in diabetes patients. The drug was donated to charity by Astra Zeneca. The team recognized that it could activate immune system cells as a potential treatment for people with the SARS-CoV-2 virus by dampening the immune system’s overactive response that causes damage to organs in the body, especially the heart. and the lungs. .

The trial reduced the number of deaths in patients receiving AZD1656, a promising finding that will need further analysis by the researchers when cellular immunology results become available before the study results undergo peer review. The reduced mortality for patients on AZD1656 was observed alongside benefits of other medications, such as dexamethasone, as part of standard of care. AZD1656 was shown to be well tolerated and no serious side effects occurred.

Diabetes, whether type 1 or 2, is the leading cause of co-morbidity during the pandemic and one in three of all deaths from Covid-19 in hospitals in England have been linked to diabetes.

The objectives of the clinical trial, called ARCADIA, were to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the drug, a glucokinase activator, and to determine the effect of the therapy on clinical improvement and mortality.

The recently completed ARCADIA Phase II study, led by St George Street Capital, was randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled and conducted in 158 patients. The trial was funded by international investment and the UKRI/Innovate UK programme.

The researchers say their data supports ongoing research on AZD1656 for treating people with diabetes who have Covid-19 in future clinical trials. They also hope to try the drug in people without diabetes that could potentially benefit an even larger group of people, such as patients with long-term Covid.

Professor Martin, Chair of SGSC and Principal Investigator of the UKRI grant, said: “We have demonstrated our ability to rapidly deliver a clinical trial in 16 months from conception to completion. The promising results of this trial indicate indicates that AZD1656, a simple oral tablet, has the potential to become a new treatment for Covid-19.It is beneficial regardless of viral mutations.It is the first specific treatment for Covid disease (as opposed to antivirals or vaccines) and could usher in a new field of drugs that activate cells in the body that themselves become the therapeutic agent.”

Professor Coffey added: “Our study shows that the potential results of collaborations with pharma in reusing drugs for use in unmet clinical needs are enormous. St George Street Capital has proven this model.”

This week Thursday, the team’s work was recognized at a reception at 10 Downing Street attended by Professor Martin. The reception was held to celebrate the prosperity and innovation partnership between the UK and the United Arab Emirates as the UAE’s state wealth fund helped fund the trial.