PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — DMI Research is one of the facilities taking part in pharmaceutical company Romark's Phase 3 clinical trials aimed at determining whether a new drug candidate known as NT-300 could help prevent recipients from developing COVID-19. The active ingredient in the extended-release tablets is nitazoxanide.

"It's been on the market for almost 20 years. It's indicated right now as an antiparasitic and antiviral," DMI Research President and owner Kathy Hann said.

According to Romark, nitazoxanide has been shown to stop replication of SARS, MERS, and other coronaviruses in laboratory studies. Hann said it can also prevent a cytokine storm, an immune response that can lead to complications, or even death. 

Romark announced earlier this year it planned to enroll 800 people in each of the studies. One is focused on residents of long-term care facilities, the other on health care workers caring for COVID patients.

"They're wearing their personal protective gear, but they still are at risk because, supposedly, it is so contagious," Hann said.

The studies are specifically looking at whether the new drug can prevent someone who comes in contact with a person who tests positive for COVID-19 from becoming infected themselves, according to Hann. She said the studies only recently got under way at DMI, and no participants are enrolled.

Anyone interested in learning more about criteria to participate in the studies can call DMI's patient line at (727) 548-9600. You can also learn more by visiting Romark's website.