Canada to advance research on outpatient medications for COVID-19

OTTAWA, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Thursday an investment to create a pan-Canadian platform to advance research into the effectiveness and clinical challenges of new COVID-19 treatments in non-hospitalized patients.

With the investment of 10 million Canadian dollars (about 8 million U.S. dollars), the Canadian ADAptive Platform Trial of COVID-19 Therapeutics in Community Settings (Can-ADAPT COVID) will investigate outpatient medications for COVID-19 such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and provide key insights into whether treatments prevent hospitalization and post COVID-19 condition, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research said in a press release.

According to the release, this study will also offer timely evidence to clinical researchers, health system managers, and public health officials in Canada and abroad.

Many drugs are being evaluated in Canada and around the world as potential treatments for COVID-19. Health Canada has authorized several of these for use in Canada.

Can-ADAPT COVID will enable information sharing with clinical researchers from the United Kingdom and the European Union for quicker results, the release said.