Ann: Ethics Approval to Treat COVID-19 Patients in Australia, page-144

What’s happening – Covid19-ARDs trial?

Early doors there was mention that there was to be recruitment of 300 patients from 30 sites America wide and a rapid mobilisation with expectancy of early enrolment given the dire situation. This has been moderated to more than 20 centres to the latest mention of more than 17 centres.

What; there is the sudden realisation that there are no/insufficient takers for this trial to complete the required 300 enrolment? That to reach the 300 target there is a need to reach out and engage with other hospitals (in Australia) that may be more amenable/interested? Is the 300 patient enrolment a necessary requirement before the release of a preliminary trial report?

Is NIH administering/funding the Australian component of the trial? or has NIH just failed to deliver/or has dragged its heels regarding recruitment? I’m getting the feeling that this blinded trial might be more a case of the blind leading the blind, but I DON’T KNOW, -requires a Pauline Hansen.