The University of Minnesota Medical School is beginning a clinical trial that is studying if a generic medication for type 2 diabetes can be used to effectively treat COVID-19.
The medication in question is called Metformin. And the multi-site clinical trial is seeking volunteers for the outpatient study. It will also be the first randomized clinical trial for COVID-19 in the world to include pregnant women.
The reason the trial is starting is because researchers at the U of M medical school noticed, via computer modeling and observational studies, that outpatient metformin use may decrease dying from or being hospitalized for COVID-19.
While the medicine still needs to be fully researched to prove its effectiveness against COVID-19, researchers are excited about the study and say it could possibly be a safe and low-cost medication that could treat COVID worldwide — and help countries with low healthcare resources.
The medical school says the study is simple. Volunteers will be enrolled through six institutions in the United States, including locations in Minneapolis. To qualify for the study, volunteers must enroll within three days of receiving a positive COVID-19 test.
Then, the patients will receive 14 days’ worth of immediate release metformin or a placebo to take twice a day and track symptoms. After the 14 days, volunteers will complete a survey.
Volunteers must also be between 30 years old and 85 years old. There are other qualifications, so visit COVIDOUT.com for more.
Participating clinical trial sites in Minneapolis include M Health Fairview and Hennepin Healthcare.
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