The treatment involves inhaling a protein called interferon beta, which the body produces when it gets a viral infection, and is being studied in a mass trial overseen by the University of Southampton.
Early findings published in The Lancet last year suggested the treatment, developed at Southampton University Hospital and produced by Southampton-based biotech company Synairgen, cut the odds of a Covid patient developing severe disease by almost 80%.
How does it work?
Interferon beta, which is regularly used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, is part of the body’s first natural line of defence against viruses, warning it to expect a viral attack.
Scientists believe they have found an inhaler (pictured) that blocks coronavirus from progressing in the lungs
A mass trial of a repurposed Multiple Sclerosis drug that researchers hope will hugely reduce the chances of coronavirus patients becoming seriously ill has begun at a hospital in Hull.
The first patient in the trial of a medicine known as SNG001 received the treatment at Hull Royal Infirmary on Tuesday.
Earlier trials produced promising results with just 13 per cent of patients given it going on to need intensive care treatment compared to 22 per cent who received a placebo.
Patients treated with the drug were also twice as likely to recover after two weeks than those who didn t, according to the research by Southampton University.
BBC News
By Justin Rowlatt
image captionKaye Flitney is one of those enrolled on the clinical trial
A large-scale trial of a new treatment it is hoped will help stop Covid-19 patients from developing severe illness has begun in the UK.
The first patient received the treatment at Hull Royal Infirmary on Tuesday afternoon.
It involves inhaling a protein called interferon beta which the body produces when it gets a viral infection.
The hope is it will stimulate the immune system, priming cells to be ready to fight off viruses.
Early findings suggested the treatment cut the odds of a Covid-19 patient in hospital developing severe disease - such as requiring ventilation - by almost 80%.