Innovative COVID-19 trials win prestigious award

Two large clinical trials from the COVID-19 pandemic have been awarded the Prix Galien Best Public Sector Innovation Award 2024.

 

Southampton’s Professor Paul Little, Dr Mark Lown and Professor Nick Francis were part of the research teams for the PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC trials. Prof Little was Co-Chief Investigator for PANORAMIC.

The teams were honoured for their rapid implementation of the two trials. The trials accelerated the evaluation of potential treatments for COVID-19 in community settings.

Preventing hospitalisations

PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC both aimed to prevent people with COVID-19 symptoms from needing to go to hospital.

PRINCIPLE tested pre-existing drugs, while PANORAMIC focussed on new antiviral treatments. Both recruited people through GP surgeries and other community settings.

Both were large-scale platform trials led by the University of Oxford. This unique design enables the simultaneous assessment of multiple treatments.

Recognising healthcare innovations

The Prix Galien is considered the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research. It celebrates breakthrough innovations that advance progress in diagnosing, treating, and curing disease.

The teams won the Best Public Sector Innovation award. This recognises healthcare innovations developed within or supported by the public sector. It spotlights contributions that have impacted human health.

The awards were held at Prix Galien UK’s annual Galien Forum, at the Natural History Museum in London.

Prof Little said: “This is a huge honour, and a tribute to the great work by the whole team - a suitable testament to some of the most innovative and important studies to come out of primary care in the COVID pandemic.”