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Montreal Heart Institute gets $3M for COVID-19 clinical trial

The grant comes from a fund with donors including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Madonna.

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The Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre has received a $3-million grant to fund a clinical trial into whether colchicine — an anti-inflammatory medication used to treat gout and pericarditis — can be effective in reducing the inflammatory conditions associated with COVID-19.

The grant comes from the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, a fund with donors that include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mastercard, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Madonna.

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In order to be a part of the study, participants must:

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  • have been diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • be 40 or older;
  • not be hospitalized;
  • be willing to take the drug or placebo daily for 30 days;
  • be willing to participate in two follow-up calls by phone or videoconference.

Women of child-bearing potential who do not take contraceptives, those who are pregnant, or those who are breastfeeding are not eligible for the trial.

Physicians with patients, or individuals with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, who are interested in participating in the clinical study are asked to call 1-877-536-6837.

More information can be obtained at www.colcorona.net

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