Latest PRINCIPLE trial findings ‘exciting and important’ for patient care, says RCGP

The RCGP has responded to the latest findings of the PRINCIPLE trial of COVID-19 treatments, published by the University of Oxford

Professor Simon de Lusignan, medical director for the RCGP’s Research and Surveillance Centre, said the following.

“We’re learning about COVID-19 all the time. This is helping us to treat patients with the virus, lessen the severity of their symptoms and aid their rehabilitation in the community – and this is only possible due to high quality research, being conducted using primary care patient data. The RCGP’s Research and Surveillance Centre has played a key role in recruiting participants and getting this trial off the ground. Practices have identified eligible people and offered them the opportunity to participate in this research. They have arranged virology testing, using Public Health England’s Colindale laboratory, and helped with follow up data about recovery and any hospitalisation.

“These latest results from the PRINCIPLE trial are both exciting and important. They show that use of budesonide will have an important impact on the health of patients most at risk of developing more severe illness from COVID-19 by shortening their recovery by an average of three days.

“General practice is at the forefront of tackling the pandemic in the community, delivering care to those whose health has been directly or indirectly impacted by COVID-19. Having easily accessible medication that can help patients recover faster from COVID-19 will enhance the care we are able to deliver, close to home, where patients want it most.

“This has only been possible because GP practices have taken part in this study and support their patients’ participation. We would encourage all practices to sign up to the RCGP’s Research and Surveillance Centre, so that data from their practices can be used in future trials.”