Chloroquine/ hydroxychloroquine prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the healthcare setting

What’s the COPCOV trial about?

Even with good infection control, people who work in healthcare settings are at higher risk of COVID-19 than other people.

The antiviral activity of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may protect people exposed to COVID-19 from catching it.

Is taking HCQ like this safe?

Yes. HCQ has been used for decades to treat rheumatological disease and we know it’s safe in most people.*
*people with certain medical conditions or taking specific medicines will be identified at screening and advised not to participate in the COPCOV trial.

Should I worry about side effects?

We expect most people taking HCQ in the COPCOV study will get either no side-effects or minor symptoms.

Could HCQ really be used to prevent COVID-19?

HCQ is not patented, easy and cheap to make and has a long shelf-life without refrigeration. If COPCOV finds it does protect from COVID-19 it could be widely used across the world.

If COPCOV finds that HCQ can prevent COVID-19 infection it could be used alongside any future vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.

UK Recruitment Count:

226

Current UK recruitment sites: (Recruitment in the UK has now stopped)

• Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
• Dudley Group NHS Trust
• Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust
• Rotherham, Doncaster And South Humber NHS Foundation Trust
• The Princess Alexandra NHS Trust
• Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust