AstraZeneca Tests Diabetes Drug as COVID-19 Treatment in Phase 3 Trial

AstraZeneca has begun a phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate its diabetes drug Farxiga (dapagliflozin) as a possible treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The trial in collaboration with Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute will assess whether the drug can reduce disease progression, clinical complications and death due to COVID-19 in patients who also have cardiovascular, metabolic or kidney risk factors.

Farxiga is approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes as both a monotherapy or in combination with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control.

The DARE-19 trial aims to recruit approximately 900 patients in the U.S. and Europe.