COVID-19 has devastated the world, with millions of deaths and socio-economic disasters. Medicine has been fighting back hard, with some incredible examples of research answering the important questions at breakneck speed.

The RECOVERY trial is the one which has answered questions on Dexamethasone, Hydroxychloroquine, Azithromicin, Lopinavir-Ritonavir, and now convalescent plasma (works, harms, no effect, no effect, no effect).

To get high quality, properly randomised, trustworthy data so incredibly quickly is an amazing feat. RECOVERY has a paediatric arm, which was agile enough to have included a PIMS-TS / MIS-C arm as early as June.

Answers on the therapies on these important conditions are urgent, and at the time of recording 118 paediatric patient have been randomised. There are two arms: for respiratory COVID, and for PIMS-TS / MIS-C. IVIG, steroids, and Tociluzimab are all being randomised: soon Baricitinib will be joining the party.

Saul Faust leads the paediatric arm of RECOVERY. He talks about the history of the trial, how we got here, and what is next. What has been found so far? What are the implications for future studies?

Our only weapon in this situation is knowledge.

Categories: Podcast