Coronavirus: the Dakar Pasteur Institute's approach to clinical trials

Text by: Caroline Lachowsky | Ophélie Lahccen

Several teams around the world are mobilized to carry out clinical trials against Covid-19. This is particularly the case in Dakar, Senegal, where the first tests will soon begin at the Institut Pasteur.

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Doctor Amadou Sall is director of the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, virologist and specialist in emerging diseases.

Wednesday April 8, he was the guest of the program Priorité santé , live on RFI.

► Also read: Coronavirus: update on current clinical trials

RFI: Where is the Institut Pasteur de Dakar currently in research against the Covid-19?

Dr. Amadou Sall: In the area of ​​research, more specifically that of clinical research, we are in the implementation phase of this research, given that the epidemic started a little over a month ago. They will start very soon on our reflections on hydroxychloroquine and how it can benefit patients. We work in collaboration with Professor Moussa Seydi, from Fann Hospital , who is responsible for treatment at the national level.

However, what is important, beyond clinical research for treatments, is to have a reflection, an evaluation of the presentation of clinical cases in the African field. This makes it possible to see if there are specificities, if there is a different presentation, from an immunological point of view but also from the expression of the disease. This is important because it will condition the care and perhaps put in place approaches more specific to our context.

What areas of research are you focusing on ?

There are three areas in which we are increasing our action:

• The diagnosis : In the current situation, we are trying to quickly curb this epidemic. We are active on everything related to the development of rapid diagnostic tools.
• Regularly monitor how the virus behaves : does it change, evolve? This is important to understand the monitoring of the chains of transmission, but also possibly, in the event that it changes, to adapt in terms of diagnostic or management tools.
• Understand the dynamics of the epidemic through modeling approaches, the construction of scenarios which will make it possible to anticipate strategies for taking charge of the epidemic and its control.

Are there any African specificities in your approach?

I think it is important, depending on the stage of the epidemic in Africa and Senegal, to have research that is directly linked to the concerns. But it is also, of course, necessary to tie in with the global dynamic and work in collaboration with our colleagues around the world.

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