For trial participants

If you have received a letter inviting you to take part in our research study, these pages may be useful in helping you make your decision. If you haven’t received a letter, it may be that your GP practice is not currently involved – in this case, please speak to your GP and they may decide to participate.

At the moment we are recruiting for the first phase of the study, so this is what the following information refers to. Information for the second phase of the trial will be posted in due course. Please take time to read the information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear, and thank you for reading this.

Who can enter: If you are over 65 years of age and are generally healthy, you can have blood tests taken to determine whether or not you can take part. Blood samples will be analysed in the laboratory, and people who fit a certain set of criteria will be invited into the study.

Who can’t enter: If you have a significant chronic illness, or are taking certain medication that may interfere with the drug used in this trial, you cannot enter the trial. Your GP will not enter you for testing if you fall into this category.

Tests and treatments: You will need to attend clinic appointments once per month for 6 months, and then again at 9 months and 12 months after starting the trial. Depending on which treatment group you are placed in, you may be required to take tablets for the first 6 months. These tablets are not new drugs – they are licensed and used for treating viral infections such as cold sores. Appointments will be with a nurse, who will work through questionnaires with you to ensure that everything is OK and you are still happy to participate in the trial. During the appointments you will also have bloods tests taken and be asked to bring a urine sample with you.

You can withdraw from the trial and stop taking medication at any point if you wish.