Frequently Asked Questions

What is Interferon-Alpha?

Interferon-Alpha is not a new medication. It has already been approved to treat other conditions like chronic Hepatitis C for many years and has been shown to be effective. However it has not been used before as a nasal spray to prevent viral infections before.

Are there any side effects?

Medical treatments often cause side effects. You may have none, some, or all of the effects associated with the drugs being investigated.

Will I get a placebo?

At the beginning of the study you will be randomly assigned (by computer) to receive either the active drug, or a matching placebo which is a dummy medication that does not contain any active ingredients. Neither you nor your treating team will know which you are receiving until the end of the study. At the moment there is no preventative medicine recommended as part of standard care for people with cancer.

Can I withdraw at any time?

Participation in the study is completely voluntary and you can decide to withdraw your consent (leave the study) at any time. This will not affect your relationship with your doctor in any way or prevent you from accessing care afterwards.

What if I have already received the COVID-19 vaccine? Can I still participate?

Yes, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine does not exclude you from participating in this study and it is encouraged that you have had one. We know that patients can be receiving treatment which can weaken the immune system meaning that the vaccine may not be as effective compared to a healthy person.

What are the benefits of participation if I have already received the COVID-19 vaccine?

It is worthwhile looking at non-vaccine ways of preventing or reducing COVID- like symptoms that could then allow us in the future to attend work, education and health care appointments more freely. As well as COVID-19, this study may be of benefit against many other respiratory viruses for which there are no vaccines for and also cause symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sore throat and fever.

Is the study Ethically Approved?

The C-SMART clinical trial was approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and is registered on the international clinical trial registry clinicaltrials.gov. The study is also supported by funding from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

What if there is no COVID?

The C-SMART trial is also aiming to explore if a daily nasal spray may be able to prevent other kinds of respiratory infections, not just COVID. Infections such as the common cold and the flu can still be a big worry for people with cancer - therefore the study will be relevant even if there is not much COVID-19 in the community.

Will I be reimbursed for participating?

There are no reimbursement or payments available for participation in this trial - however there are also no costs associated with participation. All medication, tests and medical care will be provided free of charge.