CLARITY: impaCt of bioLogic therApy on saRs-cov-2 Infection and immuniTY

SARS-CoV2 is a highly transmissible pulmonary infection that has triggered the first known coronavirus pandemic. It causes life-threatening pneumonia, especially in vulnerable patients, such as those with comorbidities.

 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects about 1% of the UK population, and like other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) is usually treated with immunosuppressive therapies. The risk of SARS-CoV2 infection in IBD and the impact of immunosuppressive treatment is unknown. This study will harness a nationwide clinical network of specialist IBD centres across the UK to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 infection and how different immunosuppressive treatments impact induction of protective immunity. In summary, this study will provide critical insights into how IMIDs and their treatments impact SARS-CoV2 infection risk and the establishment of protective immunity. These data hold the key to evidence-based public health policy decisions for these vulnerable patient groups.  

Participation: For this study, 2317 blood samples from COVID-19 BioResource volunteers were provided.

Organisation: This study is organised by Dr Tariq Ahmad from the Exeter IBD and Pharmacogenetics Research Group