Hackensack Meridian Health Administers Treatment to 1,000th Patient in COVID-19 Clinical Trials

HACKENSACK, N.J., May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hackensack Meridian Health, the state's largest and most comprehensive health network, has reached a major milestone in its COVID-19 research: 1,000 patients have been administered the latest investigative treatments over the course of the pandemic.

From antiviral drugs to immunotherapies, to the potential treatment properties of antibodies in the blood of COVID-19 survivors, the patients have been treated over the course of 10 clinical trials, as well as through compassionate use and expanded use access. The trials include treatments from major pharmaceutical companies as well as investigator-initiated research aimed at turning the tide against the coronavirus pandemic.

The investigators and clinicians have worked on the trials across the network, and virtually round-the-clock. Hackensack Meridian Health experts have been involved in the work since the earliest stages of the pandemic.

"We are proud of the dynamic research and clinical impact we are achieving in our health network," said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. "Our physicians and scientists are propelling us as we continue to be a progressive leader of positive change amid this pandemic."

"We are working hard to evaluate these treatments as the cases continue to present at our health network," said Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., M.D., FACS, president of Hackensack Meridian Health's Northern Market, and the chief research officer of the network. "We're proud of our efforts, and how much has been accomplished in a short amount of time."

The 1,000 patients have been administered these treatments in lieu of a vaccine or fully tested drug for the newly-discovered SARS-CoV2, which Chinese authorities announced they discovered in December.

At Hackensack Meridian Health, the number of patients receiving access to these latest treatments is expected to grow with enrollments in the coming days and weeks.

The trials include:

• CYNK-001. The CYNK-001 immunotherapy made by Celularity, Inc. is aimed at bolstering patients' immune response, and is approved in cancer applications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also recently authorized the therapy as an investigational new drug for use in adult COVID-19 patients, amid the spreading pandemic. John Theurer Cancer Center will be the first site in the Phase I/II clinical trial, which will assess its effectiveness in treating infected patients. Hackensack Meridian Health is the first to test this therapy for COVID-19.
• Remdesivir. An antiviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences to respond to Ebola and Marburg viruses, the therapy is currently being investigated at five sites: Hackensack University Medical Center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, Bayshore Medical Center, and Ocean Medical Center (totaling three trials). HUMC is conducting two Phase III trials, one evaluating the safety and effectiveness in severe COVID-19 cases, and the other in moderate cases as compared to standard of care. JFK, Jersey Shore, Bayshore, and Ocean are conducting an expanded access treatment protocol in the hospital for the coronavirus cases. Additionally, across the network compassionate use of the drug is allowed in pediatric and pregnant cases.
• Acalabrutinib. A medicine approved to treat mantle cell lymphoma, a kind of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and made by AstraZeneca is also being tested. Hackensack Meridian Health is the first to test this kinase inhibitor.
• Sarilumab. A monoclonal antibody by Regeneron intended for arthritis treatments is being tested. The adaptive, Phase II/III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy and safety of the treatment in COVID-19 patients is open and enrolling at Hackensack University Medical Center, JFK Medical Center, and Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
• Tocilizumab. An immunosuppressive drug used to treat arthritis manufactured by Genentech. The trial at HMH enrolled patients at Hackensack University Medical Center.
• Hydroxychloroquine. The immunosuppressive drug used to treat and prevent malaria was investigated at JFK Medical Center as a COVID-19 preventative among high-risk healthcare workers. Patients are no longer being enrolled in this trial.
• Convalescent plasma – Hackensack. HUMC is recruiting recovered and recovering COVID-19 patients to test their blood for antibodies in response to the virus. Patients with promising titers of antibodies will be asked to donate plasma, which may be helpful for sick COVID-19 patients. This trial is unique to HUMC.
• Convalescent plasma – network-wide. Sites across the Hackensack Meridian Health network are taking part in the FDA/Red Cross-led National Expanded Access Program.

The trials have specific criteria, following various guidelines at different phases of the investigational process, and are under the guidance of the Hackensack Meridian Health Office of Research Administration (ORA), which set up a research committee in the earliest days of the pandemic. For more information on the ORA, reach out to Cheryl Fittizzi, vice president of Research and Regulatory Affairs, at [email protected].

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH 

Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.

Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children's hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals – Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital – Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 34,100 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The network's notable distinctions include having four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and being named to Becker's Healthcare's "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2019" list.

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its On3 campus in Nutley and Clifton. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

SOURCE Hackensack Meridian Health

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