JABSOM Opens Clinical Trial on Treatment for COVID-19

Researchers at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), University of Hawaii (UH) announced that they have opened the first clinical trial in Hawaii aimed at finding an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19. 

The full title of the study is “H051 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Pilot Clinical Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of Telmisartan for the Mitigation of Pulmonary and Cardiac Complications in COVID-19 Patients. It is listed in the national clearinghouse for clinical trials as NCT04360551. 

“We will test the hypothesis that much of the dangerous lung and heart effects of COVID-19 is caused by the virus’ ability to dysregulate the delicate balance in the hormone system in our body called the renin-angiotensin system,” said Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, Professor of Medicine at JABSOM and the lead investigator for this study. “Telmisartan lowers blood pressure by blocking the harmful effects of this hormone system, and we hope to find preliminary evidence that taking the drug will also prevent much of the harmful effects of the virus.” 

Dr. Shikuma adds that “It is an advantage that telmisartan is already FDA approved and much of the safety concerns of this drug is already known.”