A pioneering clinical trial testing anti-viral medication as a potential treatment for long COVID has begun in the UK, offering hope to millions suffering from persistent symptoms five years after the pandemic's onset.
The £1.25 million ERASE long COVID project, led by the University of Derby in collaboration with the University of Plymouth, launched in September 2024 and represents the first trial of its kind in the UK.
The Long COVID Challenge
More than 144 million people globally are living with long COVID, including over 2 million in the UK alone. Nearly a quarter of UK sufferers have experienced symptoms for more than two years, with common manifestations including extreme fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, and cognitive difficulties known as "brain fog."
"The impact long COVID has on the lives of patients is huge," explained study lead Mark Faghy, Professor in Clinical Exercise Science at the University of Derby. "For many, it can be debilitating, interfering with work, family life, and socializing, and millions are suffering across the world. Yet, at present, there are no confirmed treatments for the condition."
Trial Design and Methodology
The trial involves 72 participants diagnosed with long COVID who will receive an anti-viral medication previously reserved for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Since most people who contracted COVID-19 were not hospitalized, they typically haven't had access to these treatments.
Participants undergo initial assessments at the University of Derby's specialist facilities before receiving the anti-viral drug intravenously for five consecutive days at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
The Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit (PenCTU) at the University of Plymouth is managing the study, which also includes collaborators from Aston University and the University of Exeter. Patients recruited in Exeter will undergo detailed body scans to determine if the anti-viral medication reduces inflammation, which may be present in people with long COVID.
Early Promising Results
Ryan Cawley, a 37-year-old participant, offers an encouraging perspective on the trial's potential. Cawley contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and was later diagnosed with long COVID after experiencing debilitating symptoms that forced him to quit his job as a bank product owner.
"I was always on the go, I loved being busy – playing football twice a week, going to the gym, swimming, socializing and nights out but long COVID took all of that away from me," Cawley said. "If I tried light activity like a short walk or spent too long concentrating on a laptop, I would be wiped out and in bed for a week. I would wake up every day feeling like I had just run a marathon."
Three weeks after receiving the medication, Cawley reported significant improvement: "Since taking the medication, I feel like I have been given a new pair of lungs. My breathing feels better and I'm able to do more without as much rest. My girlfriend said I have been stronger each day, which is a win for me."
While cautious about declaring a full recovery, he added, "I've had five years of my body not operating properly so I'm not expecting to be better within weeks, but I definitely feel like I'm on that upward trajectory to recovery now and feel hopeful for the future."
Scientific Approach and Future Implications
Professor David Strain, clinical lead based at the University of Exeter Medical School, emphasized the critical need for effective treatments: "There is a clear need for people living with long COVID and we hope from this study we can see a reduction in the symptoms people experience. It will be an ongoing project with various phases, but we are excited to be taking the first steps to improve patients' quality of life."
The current trial builds on four years of international studies conducted by Professor Faghy and his team at the University of Derby exploring the impacts of acute and long COVID. Their work, which combines clinical insight with patients' lived experiences, received a Nature Inclusive Health Research Award in 2024, described as a "model for the future of health research."
While the research is still in its early stages, it represents a significant step forward in addressing a condition that continues to affect millions worldwide five years after the pandemic began.
"This is an ongoing project with various phases and is still in its infancy," Professor Faghy noted, "but we are excited to have taken the first steps to hopefully improve the quality of life for those living with long COVID."
