Salford pharmacies to conduct COPD trial on 4,000 patients
Clinical GlaxoSmithKline is using Salford PCT's 55 pharmacies to test a late-stage investigational drug for the treatment of COPD
Community pharmacists in Salford PCT are set to take part in an innovative "real-world" research project involving 4,000 COPD patients designed to test a late-stage investigational drug, manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced.
The trial will see all 55 pharmacies in Salford collaborating with GPs, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Manchester, North West e-health and each other to conduct the year-long research, launched Friday (March 2). GSK hopes that testing the respiratory drug across a large population will establish its "true value" better than solely relying on randomised clinical trials.
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Pharmacists will administer the drug, a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta-agonist combination treatment, to 2,000 of the participants, while the other half will continue with their existing therapies. The patients' electronic records will be available to all healthcare professionals involved in the trial, as they monitor patients for any worsening of symptoms. The manufacturer will look at the safety and efficacy of the drug, as well as the ability of patients to manage their COPD "day to day". Gerry Haydock, superintendent pharmacist for Tims & Parker pharmacies, Manchester, said independents and multiples had all agreed on an SOP for the project. He added that this collaboration had been "essential". |
"The patients could only get their medication within the Salford area, so it was essential that we didn't have any gaps in [service provision]," he explained. "We managed to get all 55 pharmacies in the area signed up, so I think that's a great big tick for pharmacy."
Mr Haydock told C+D he hoped to see pharmacies become more involved in trials in the future. "It's a shame things like the new medicine service don't work this way - the trial is being properly remunerated and we don't have to jump through target bands," he explained. "It's new for pharmacy and I don't think anything has been done on this scale before."
GSK will extend the testing to asthma patients in May, and hopes to recruit 5,000 participants for this later testing.
Watch the latest blog from Department of Health community pharmacy tsar Jonathan Mason on the Salford lung study.
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