In a strong commitment to research and development, Holy Cross Health has been participating in COVID-19 and lung cancer related clinical trials and programs throughout 2020.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Holy Cross Health recruited and treated patients in a clinical research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of LY-CoV555, an antibody therapy engineered from one of the first individuals to recover from COVID-19, in patients with early mild to moderate COVID-19 to help newly diagnosed patients clear the SARS-CoV-2 virus faster.
The non-profit hospital also participated in a clinical trial to determine whether two different treatments can safely lower the risk of blood clots in patients critically ill with COVID-19. The first treatment was with an anticoagulant, a blood-thinning medication, and the second treatment was with clopidogrel, a drug that helps stop blood cells called platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. While both of these treatments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for preventing blood clots, they had not previously been studied in COVID-19 patients. Holy Cross was one of 30 study sites in the U.S. led by the TIMI Study Group, a group of researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.
“These studies provide us with critical information for the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” said Paul Papagni, JD, executive director research for Holy Cross Health. “Our research program helps to identify new and effective treatment options that are necessary to improve the long-term survival in this patient population.”
Beginning back in March of 2020 Holy Cross participated in the FDA's COVID-19 Expanded Access Program to collect and provide convalescent plasma to patients in need. Holy Cross Health then worked to launched numerous clinical trials for patients at all stages of Covid-19, from newly diagnosed to moderate and even serious high risk patients. Information gained from these studies placed our physicians at the forefront in understanding of how best to fight this pandemic.
For lung cancer patients, Holy Cross Health has participated in a clinical trial for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC accounts for approximately 83 percent of all lung cancer. Patients with advanced NSCLC who experienced disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) were eligible for the Phase 3 SAPPHIRE study to find effective treatment options that are needed to improve the long-term survival in this patient population.
“We appreciate all that Paul and his research team have done through participation in these vital clinical trials, especially those that were COVID related,” said Holy Cross Health CEO and President Mark Doyle. “Our goal is always to expand our participation in innovative research studies to ensure the best possible long-term outcomes for patients in our community. We look forward to participating in more clinical trials in the coming year.”
ABOUT HOLY CROSS HEALTH
A member of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale-based Holy Cross Hospital, dba Holy Cross Health, is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Holy Cross has been named one of the top 10 hospitals in the Miami metro area and among the top 30 in the state in U.S. News and World Report's 2020-2021 Best Hospital rankings. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to serve as our community’s trusted health partner for life. Holy Cross Health also encompasses Holy Cross HealthPlex outpatient facility, urgent care centers and more than 50 Holy Cross Medical Group physician practices. To learn more about Holy Cross Health, visit holy-cross.com. Connect @holycrossfl.
