Clinical trials to begin for COVID-19 treatment developed in South Carolina [Video]

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – State lawmakers approved millions of dollars for research on a new COVID-19 treatment that will soon begin clinical trials, with every step of the research and development to take place completely in South Carolina.

During the 2022-2023 legislative session, lawmakers made a $13 million investment, with future opportunities to invest up to more than $27 million in research on a nebulizer treatment for respiratory illnesses.

“This is one of those opportunities for the state to invest in itself, both in its pharmaceutical industry and also in its clinical trials infrastructure across the entire state,” MUSC Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Dr. Charlie Strange says.

It’s a new way to treat COVID by inhaling medicine into the lungs to address respiratory inflammation, compared with the already-developed antiviral pill.

“As opposed to most medicines that people have heard about for COVID that are antiviral medicines that …