The second phase of clinical trials on Rupatadine as a treatment for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) will commence at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda tomorrow, according to Immunologist and Director of the Jayawardanapura Medical Faculty’s Centre for Dengue Research, Prof. Neelika Malavige.
She told the Sunday Observer, that they had brought down the stocks of medication and will commence registrations for clinical trials at the hospital OPD.
The first trial was done at the Dengue Unit of the IDH early this year on a sample 183 patients. The ‘randomized placebo controlled trial’ tested the efficacy of Rupatadine in reducing the incidence of dengue hemorrhagic fever and complications of dengue fever such as fluid leakage in patients in severe stages.
She said the second trial will be a ‘randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial’ which means the patient and the doctors will not be aware of what they were given, the placebo or the drug. “During the first trial, we found the drug was safe to be given to dengue patients and it appeared to reduce fluid leakage as well as other complications associated with dengue, such as, liver issues and the dropping of platelet count,” Prof. Malavige said. The drug also reduced the duration of the illness and the results of the first trial had been quite promising, he said. The research team will recruit 280 male and female patients between 18-60 years for the trial that will span over an unspecified period.
The clinical trials are being conducted with the blessings of the Health Ministry and other State agencies, Prof. Malavige said.