Cancer-fighting drug that could help later-stage COVID-19 patients tested at Colorado Springs hospital
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- New findings of a cancer-fighting drug, called AstraZeneca's Calquence, is potentially showing a benefit for COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Andrew Monticelli, co-author of the manuscript and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers at Penrose Hospital, and Dr. Michael Roshon, Chief of Medical Staff for Penrose-St. Francis, helped pioneer the use of this cancer drug, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
The use of the drug for coronavirus patients is a collaboration between Centura-Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, the U.S. Oncology Network, AstraZeneca and the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Monticelli says, "One interesting thing that kept us excited us is that a lot of patients on ventilators got better, and if you go on a ventilator the death rate is extremely high."
AstraZeneca is launching clinical trails of Calquence involving 200 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The goal of the trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding Calquence in patients with life-threatening COVID-19 cases.
