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<keyword id="8956772" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Convalescent-plasma" source="Orion">Convalescent plasma</keyword> shows no improvement in survival and other important measures and is not recommended for patients with Covid-19, according to a study released on Tuesday by the <keyword id="43588" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-health-organization" source="Orion">World Health Organization</keyword> (WHO). Covid-19 convalescent plasma, also known as "survivor's plasma", is transfusion of blood plasma from patients who have recovered from Covid-19. Last year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorisation to allow use of convalescent plasma in hospitalised patients with Covid-19. A WHO Guideline Development Group of international experts in The BMJ wrote that despite its initial promise, current evidence shows that it does not improve survival nor reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, and it is costly and time-consuming to administer. The WHO made a strong recommendation against the use of convalescent plasma in patients with non-severe illness, and in patients with severe and critical illness, except in the context of a randomised controlled trial (RCT). The recommendations are based on evidence from 16 trials involving 16,236 patients with non-severe, severe, and critical Covid infection. And although convalescent plasma should not be used routinely in any patients, regardless of how severely ill they are, the panel acknowledged that there was sufficient uncertainty in patients with severe and critical illness to warrant continuation of RCTs. The guidance adds to previous recommendations for the use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers and systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe or critical Covid-19; conditional recommendations for the use of neutralising monoclonal antibodies in selected patients and against the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in patients with covid-19 regardless of disease severity. The therapy involves transfusing plasma, the pale yellow liquid in blood that is rich in antibodies, from people who have recovered from Covid-19 into patients who have leukemia, lymphoma or other blood cancers and are hospitalised with the viral infection. The goal is to accelerate their disease-fighting response. In August, a study led by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) also stated that early administration of convalescent plasma does not prevent disease progression in a high-risk group of Covid-19 patients. In May, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) dropped the plasma therapy as Covid-19 treatment, citing no significant benefit. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-are-the-states-with-confirmed-cases-of-omicron-covid-19-strain-in-india/slidelist/88138240.cms">Omicron in India — Maharashtra and Rajasthan have recorded 19 positive cases so far</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/uber-launches-audio-recording-feature-for-riders-drivers-to-enhance-safety-during-trips/articleshow/88139270.cms">Uber launches audio recording feature for riders, drivers to enhance safety during trips</a>

WHO advises against use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment

The <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword> on Monday revised the clinical guidance for COVID-19 treatment, dropping the off-label use of <keyword id="8956772" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="convalescent-plasma">convalescent plasma</keyword> as it was found not beneficial in reducing the progression to severe disease or death. The development came following a meeting of the ICMR-National Task Force for COVID-19 last week wherein all members were in favour of removing the use of convalescent plasma from the <keyword id="6379119" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="guidelines">guidelines</keyword> citing its ineffectiveness and inappropriate use in several cases. An Indian Council of Medical Research (<keyword id="6364396" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICMR">ICMR</keyword>) official said the task force "revised" the Clinical Guidance for Management of Adult COVID-19 Patients and "dropped convalescent plasma (off label)". The previous guidelines recommended off-label use of plasma therapy at the stage of early moderate disease, that is, within seven days of the onset of symptoms and if there is availability of a high titre donor plasma. The decision to remove it from the guidelines comes in the backdrop of some clinicians and scientists writing to Principal Scientific Advisor K VijayRaghavan cautioning against the "irrational and non-scientific use" of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country. In the letter, which was also marked to ICMR chief Balram Bhargava and <keyword id="40458" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIIMS">AIIMS</keyword> Director Randeep Guleria, public health professionals alleged that the current guidelines on plasma therapy are not based on existing evidence and pointed out some very early evidence that indicates a possible association between emergence of variants with "lower susceptibility to neutralising antibodies in immunosuppressed" people given plasma therapy. This raises the possibility of more virulent strains developing due to irrational use of plasma therapy which can fuel the pandemic, according to the letter signed by vaccinologist Gagandeep Kang, surgeon Pramesh C S and others. "We are writing to you as concerned clinicians, public health professionals and scientists from <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> about the irrational and non- scientific use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in the country. "This has stemmed from guidelines issued by government agencies, and we request your urgent intervention to address the issue which can prevent harassment of COVID-19 patients, their families, their clinicians and COVID-19 survivors," said the letter. "The current research evidence unanimously indicates that there is no benefit offered by convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19. However, it continues to be prescribed rampantly in hospitals across India," the letter said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/google-said-to-rival-apples-privacy-push-with-android-12-while-taking-care-of-its-advertising-business/articleshow/82729724.cms">Google said to rival Apple’s privacy push with Android 12 while taking care of its advertising business</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/facebooks-mark-zuckerberg-has-six-months-to-answer-these-five-questions/articleshow/82729482.cms">Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has six months to answer these five questions</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indian-cryptocurrency-exchange-wazirx-has-listed-shiba-inu-tokens-for-trading-in-indian-rupees/articleshow/82731429.cms">WazirX has listed Shiba Inu — here's everything you need to know about the said Dogecoin killer</a>

Indian government drops plasma therapy from guidelines for COVID-19 management

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="8956772" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="convalescent-plasma">Convalescent plasma</keyword> could still be a crucial <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> treatment, says an immunology professor.</li><li>Plasma is donated by recovered patients, providing an injection of virus-fighting <keyword id="102007" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Antibodies">antibodies</keyword>.</li><li>"Most patients - even in very poor countries - can make plasma," Dr. Arturo Casadevall said.</li></ul>The rise of contagious coronavirus <keyword id="112799" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="variants">variants</keyword> has led to fears that they can both evade existing vaccines as well as authorized treatments like monoclonal antibodies.Former President Donald Trump received an experimental batch of monoclonal antibodies from the pharmaceutical company Regeneron last October, crediting it with his recovery. The Food &amp; Drug Administration issued an emergency-use authorization soon after.But such treatment was targeting the original virus, leading many experts to fear that existing treatments could also prove less effective in the face of new variants.Dr. Arturo Casadevall, chair of the molecular microbiology and immunology department at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is less gloomy. Even if vaccines ultimately prove less effective against variants, he told Insider, there may still be a way to help patients infected with these strains, both in the US and the developing world.Convalescent plasma, donated by people who've recovered from the virus and then injected into those with active infections, provides antibodies generated by the donor's immune system. It's a strategy that's been used for decades - it was even used a century ago in the 1918 flu pandemic - and in August 2020 was authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration to treat <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>.Convalescent plasma is similar to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-treatment-monoclonal-antibodies-promise-challenges-2020-12">monoclonal antibody</a> therapies, which are lab-developed drugs that follow the same approach, offering an infusion of proteins designed to recognize and target a particular threat. But unlike its manufactured cousins, new batches of plasma do not require a potentially lengthy regulatory review before they can be put to use."One thing about convalescent plasma is that it needs no development," Casadevall said. "If you were to make a vaccine, you have to develop it. If you want to make monoclonal antibodies, you have to develop it. With convalescent plasma, all you need are patients who are recovered and you have a therapy."In the coming months, Casadevall predicts, patients who have recovered from various coronavirus variants will have donated enough convalescent plasma that (in theory) a patient should be able to go to a hospital and receive a treatment tailored to the variant affecting them."That is a future where we continue to use plasma because I think the virus is going to continue to generate new variants," Casadevall said. Plasma could also offer a backstop while vaccine formulas are tweaked to better protect people against variants."Even if we defeat the current variants," he added, "more are coming."<h2>But is it just another hydroxychloroquine?</h2>There are <a href="https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/08/20/it-saved-my-life-covid-19-survivors-reflect-on-importance-of-convalescent-plasma-donations/">plenty</a> <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/henderson/henderson-man-calls-covid-treatment-life-saving-2275196/">of</a> <a href="https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/arkansas-news/it-saved-my-life-woman-praises-outpatient-monoclonal-antibody-infusions-now-being-offered-at-mcsa/">anecdotes</a> that antibody treatments work: People who received infusions have woken up the next day feeling like they might have kicked COVID-19.But anecdotal evidence isn't enough, and recent studies have yielded mixed results.In the fall, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found little difference in the death rates of hospitalized patients in Argentina who received convalescent plasma and those who received a placebo. This <a href="https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/studies-find-no-covid-benefit-preventive-hydroxychloroquine-or-convalescent">prompted one comparison</a>, from the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, to hydroxychloroquine, the antimalarial drug once touted by Trump as a miracle cure (the FDA revoked the drug's emergency use authorization last summer).More recently, researchers at Oxford University found that plasma made "<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55681051">no significant difference</a>" in the life-or-death outcomes of hospitalized patients. And in the US, the National Institutes of Health <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-halts-trial-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-emergency-department-patients-mild-symptoms">halted a clinical trial</a> involving plasma, saying that while the treatment didn't hurt, it also doesn't seem to provide serious benefits for those suffering from mild cases of COVID-19. And then there was the <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-variants-may-arise-in-people-with-compromised-immune-systems/">case study of a British man</a> who received plasma and experienced a number of viral mutations before he passed away, leading some to speculate that the treatment, when given to the seriously ill, could be responsible for producing new variants.But most studies are focusing on a test population that is already hospitalized.Casadevall believes the timing is everything. "One of the things we know about antibody therapies is that they work best when given early," he said. "You need to ask the question: When did they give it relative to the symptoms?"In another study <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2033700">published last month</a> in The New England Journal of Medicine, one group of Argentine doctors achieved far better outcomes, they said, by treating patients with convalescent plasma "within 72 hours after the onset of mild COVID-19 symptoms."Wait too long, and plasma can appear no more effective than a placebo.Johns Hopkins is conducting <a href="https://covidplasmatrial.org/">two clinical trials</a> to investigate whether administering antibodies early is effective. The trials are double-blind, meaning neither the paid volunteers nor medical professionals know whether they are using plasma or a placebo. One group will include people who have tested positive and just begun showing symptoms, while the other will be people who have been exposed to the virus but are not yet symptomatic, an effort to see plasma can stave off any sign of infection altogether.The studies are being conducted at 20 medical centers across the US and within the Navajo Nation, but it is not yet known when results will be published.<h2>If antibody therapies work, poorer nations could benefit</h2>Although three <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-vaccines-compared-pfizer-moderna-johnson-and-johnson-2021-1">effective vaccines</a> are authorized and being distributed in the US, less wealthy countries are not inoculating people at anywhere near the same pace. In Guatemala, Honduras, and the Philippines, less than 0.1% of the population has received a single dose, compared to at least 20% in the US and 34% in the UK. That raises questions of equity - whether the developed world is hoarding vaccines - and also jeopardizes the entire trajectory of the pandemic, since the more the virus spreads uncontrolled, the higher the likelihood of new variants emerging.Convalescent plasma could help here, too, Casadevall said. Not by preventing COVID-19, but by treating it so that many hospitalizations and deaths are avoided."Most of humanity is struggling to get vaccines. But humanity - most patients, even in very poor countries - can make plasma," Casadevall said. "So if we learn how to use it, and we get really good protocols for how to make them work, then what I would like to see is that information rapidly disseminated. Because it could really make a difference in some of these countries that are going to get very hard hit."Have a <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> tip? Email this reporter: <a href="mailto:cdavis@insider.com">cdavis@insider.com</a>

How convalescent plasma could be used to treat new variants of the coronavirus - especially where vaccines are scarce

Welcome to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Dispensed Daily</a>, your daily dose of <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> news from Business Insider's healthcare editor Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer and the healthcare team. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Subscribe here to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday.</a>Hello,In today's <keyword id="6265204" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dispensed">Dispensed</keyword>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">a recap of how convalescent plasma works</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/children-aged-12-and-over-should-wear-masks-who-says-2020-8">World Health Organization guidance on kids and masks,</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-million-rapid-covid-antigen-tests-available-september-less-accurate-2020-8">15-minute coronavirus antigen tests are coming.</a>Plus, telehealth company American Well <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1393584/000119312520228478/d943395ds1.htm">dropped its S-1</a>. We'll be keeping tabs as the company looks to hold its initial public offering in the coming weeks. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8"><div type="image" title="Convalescent plasma covid 19" height="3332" width="4443" msid="77743922" hostid="261"></div></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">The FDA just authorized convalescent plasma treatments for coronavirus patients — here's how the blood transfusions work</a></h3><ul><li>The FDA just issued an emergency authorization for <keyword id="8956772" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="convalescent-plasma">convalescent plasma</keyword> treatment for <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>.</li><li>The therapy involves treating sick patients with the blood of those who have already recovered.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-plasma-treatment-takeda-alliance-development-timeline-2020-6">Convalescent plasma is also the basis for a drug, hyperimmune globulin, which would deliver consistent antibody levels to patients.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">But more research is needed to show the treatment is fully safe and effective. </a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">Read the full story from Aria Bendix here&gt;&gt;</a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/children-aged-12-and-over-should-wear-masks-who-says-2020-8"><div type="image" title="Linda Mejia, 24, puts a mask on her two-year-old daughter Linda at California Hospital Medical Center’s Hope Street Margolis Family Center, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Los Angeles" height="3644" width="4859" msid="77743927" hostid="261"></div></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/children-aged-12-and-over-should-wear-masks-who-says-2020-8">The WHO just released specific mask guidance for kids as they gear up to return to school: children 12 and older should wear them as adults do</a></h3><ul><li>The World Health Organization just released guidance on whether kids should wear masks. </li><li>It's broken down into age groups: kids older than 12 should wear them, kids younger than 6 shouldn't, and for kids in between, it depends on a handful of factors.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/children-aged-12-and-over-should-wear-masks-who-says-2020-8">Mask-wearing has been a point of confusion for parents, since children don't tend to get intense coronavirus symptoms, but are nonetheless getting infected in huge numbers.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/children-aged-12-and-over-should-wear-masks-who-says-2020-8">Read the full story from Blake Dodge here&gt;&gt;</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-million-rapid-covid-antigen-tests-available-september-less-accurate-2020-8"><div type="image" title="covid testing czar giroir " height="1560" width="2081" msid="77743935" hostid="261"></div></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-million-rapid-covid-antigen-tests-available-september-less-accurate-2020-8">Millions of coronavirus tests that can deliver results in 15 minutes will be available in September, but they're less accurate</a></h3><ul><li>Millions of rapid <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> tests are slated to become available to people across the US next month.</li><li>The tests, which can yield results in around 15 minutes, are cheap and easy to produce, and require no lab work.</li><li>But they are generally not as accurate as laboratory PCR tests, and may need to be performed several times to get an accurate read on whether someone is actually sick.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-million-rapid-covid-antigen-tests-available-september-less-accurate-2020-8">"I would still say that distancing and outdoor air are your best friends," one expert said. </a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/40-million-rapid-covid-antigen-tests-available-september-less-accurate-2020-8">Read the full story from Hilary Brueck here&gt;&gt;</a>More stories we're reading:<ul><li><a href="https://fortune.com/2020/08/18/facebook-nyu-discover-mri-scans/">Facebook and NYU found a way to make MRI's faster</a> (Fortune)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-asteroid-headed-toward-earth-before-november-election-2020-8">NASA: A fridge-size asteroid is headed toward Earth one day before the November election</a> (Business Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.statnews.com/2020/08/24/straight-talk-on-the-fdas-tumultuous-weekend-and-new-questions-about-its-independence/">Stat News' Adam Feuerstein and Matthew Herper on the FDA's decision to give convalescent plasma emergency use authorization</a> (Stat News) </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/science-debunked-6-myths-about-masks-stop-believing-them-2020-8">Wearing a mask doesn't reduce your oxygen levels, and 6 other mask myths you should stop believing now</a> (Business Insider)</li></ul>See you tomorrow! In the meantime, find me at <a href="mailto:lramsey@businessinsider.com">lramsey@businessinsider.com.</a><a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Subscribe to this newsletter here.</a>- Lydia

What you need to know about convalescent plasma

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Demand for <keyword id="8956772" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="convalescent-plasma">convalescent plasma</keyword> is likely to keep rising now that the FDA has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">approved the treatment for emergency use</a>.</li><li>Hospitals, blood banks, and organizations like the Red Cross were already reporting shortages.</li><li>Requirements for donating <keyword id="118447" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Plasma">plasma</keyword> are strict: Donors must have a clinical COVID-19 diagnosis and be symptom-free for at least two weeks.</li></ul>It may take less than an hour to change a <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> patient's fate. If you've had COVID-19 and recovered, you can donate blood to sick patients — a therapy known as convalescent plasma. The FDA <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8">issued an emergency authorization</a> for the treatment on Sunday, which allows doctors to administer the transfusions to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.The idea behind the treatment is that recovered coronavirus patients have antibodies in their plasma — the yellow, liquid portion of blood — that naturally fight off infection. So transferring this plasma intravenously can help sick people mount an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibodies-last-just-months-2020-7">antibody response</a> to the coronavirus.The treatment has shown promise as <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-145-8-200610170-00139">a way to reduce mortality</a> among people with acute infection, though doctors are calling for more trials to study how the therapy affects a patient's chances of survival. So far, most research seems to suggest that patients who receive plasma earlier in the course of their infection have better outcomes.More than 2,700 hospitals have already administered plasma therapy through an expanded-access program led by the Mayo Clinic. The program has delivered plasma to more than 100,000 patients, <a href="https://www.uscovidplasma.org/">its website says</a>, though it's scheduled to end on Friday.The Mayo Clinic has relied on plasma donations from the American Red Cross or local accredited blood donation centers. But these blood donations are often in short supply — many hospitals, blood banks, and organizations like the Red Cross have reported that they don't have enough plasma to meet demand. If you've had the coronavirus and want to help, here's what to do.<h2>Separating plasma takes longer than a normal blood draw </h2>A single plasma donation may help treat up to three patients, according to the Red Cross.Collecting plasma is slightly different than other blood donations: Medical staff use an automated machine to separate the plasma from the rest of the blood (including red blood cells and platelets). The machine re-circulates these components back into the bloodstream until enough plasma is collected. The process usually takes about 45 minutes, compared to about 10 minutes for a normal blood draw.People can donate more than once, though the Red Cross asks donors to wait 28 days in between.The donation process itself relatively simple. The Red Cross asks people to <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html">sign up online</a> then wait for a call to learn if they're eligible. From there, donors can schedule an appointment at a local donation center — both <a href="https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/donate-covid-19-plasma">the Red Cross</a> and <a href="https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/donate-covid-19-plasma">the FDA</a> list sites that are accepting plasma donations.In most cases, plasma donors are required to be at least 18 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds (though some centers allow people as young as 16 to donate). They must have gotten a clinical COVID-19 diagnosis and be symptom-free for at least two weeks.People who are pregnant, have given birth in the last six weeks, or have previously been diagnosed with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV aren't eligible to donate, according to the FDA.<h2>Donations are falling short of demand</h2>Convalescent-plasma therapy dates back to the 1918 flu pandemic. But there are still major limitations to its widespread use: Plasma must be transferred quickly from a donor to a recipient, and both must have compatible blood types.Blood banks in New York, California, and Ohio <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-plasma-insight/as-covid-19-cases-rise-in-u-s-precious-plasma-donations-lag-idUSKCN25A1EP">recently told Reuters</a> their supply of convalescent plasma dwindled considerably in June and July. Donations to the American Red Cross also fell more than 70% in July — while the organization's <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2020/national-coronavirus-surge-leads-to-emergency-convalescent-plasma-shortage.html">demand for plasma more than doubled</a> in the month leading up to July 22. <div type="image" title="convalescent plasma" height="1459" width="2168" msid="77753175" hostid="261"></div>That demand is expected to increase now that convalescent plasma has been approved for emergency use by the FDA. Already, several organizations have banded together to encourage donations: In May, a coalition of medical institutions, drug companies, nonprofits, and COVID-19 survivors launched "The Fight Is In Us," a campaign to get more recovered coronavirus patients to donate blood.<h2>What to know before you donate your plasma</h2>Donating plasma is relatively safe, but there's the potential for minor side effects like feeling dizzy or faint.Doctors advise that donors eat a light meal about three hours before donating blood. They should also drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol the night before and day of the donation. It doesn't hurt to limit caffeine intake, either.<div type="image" title="A recovered coronavirus (COVID-19) patient donates blood samples for plasma extraction to help critically ill patients at the National Blood Transfusion Center." height="3840" width="5760" msid="77753176" hostid="261"></div>At a donation center, donors are generally asked to provide a government-issued ID as well as evidence of their previous COVID-19 infection: usually a positive laboratory test, though some locations will accept antibody tests or clinical diagnoses. Some local centers may ask for a social security number, proof of local residency, or US visa for foreign nationals.From there, donors go through a screening exam to check their body temperature, blood pressure, and pulse. If these readings are normal, they'll be taken to a bed, where their blood is then drawn through an IV.<h2>Some plasma is used to manufacture hyperimmune globulin</h2>Not all plasma donations are used for direct transfusions: Some go toward manufacturing hyperimmune globulin, a drug built from convalescent plasma.Japan's largest pharmaceutical company, Takeda — one of the companies involved in the "The Fight Is In Us" campaign — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/leading-coronavirus-treatments-antibodies-remdesivir-clinical-results-2020-8">hopes to secure FDA approval for its hyperimmune globulin</a> drug by the end of 2020. Donors at the company's 130-plus <a href="https://www.biolifeplasma.com/us/about-biolife/our-centers">BioLife Plasma Services centers</a> can receive $200 for each of their first two convalescent plasma donations. The money is loaded onto a debit card, or donors have the option to give it to charity.Nonprofit blood centers, on the other hand, don't pay people to donate blood. So some blood banks have expressed concern that they're losing plasma supply to pharmaceutical companies. But there are still hundreds of FDA-licensed donor centers you can go to in order to ensure your plasma gets delivered directly to patients.The big question that remains, however, is whether convalescent plasma therapy can effectively reduce mortality or prevent mild cases from becoming more severe. Some scientists argue it's too soon to tell for sure — meaning plasma donations shouldn't be a widespread treatment yet. Others say there's no time to waste given that the US' death toll is approaching 200,000.

Hospitals and blood banks are running out of convalescent plasma for coronavirus patients — here's how to donate

Welcome to <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Dispensed Daily</a>, your daily dose of <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare">healthcare</keyword> news from Business Insider's healthcare editor Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer and the healthcare team. <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Subscribe here to get this newsletter in your inbox every weekday.</a>Hello,I'm <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/kimberly-leonard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kimberly Leonard</a>, and I'm guest hosting today's edition of <keyword id="6265204" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dispensed">Dispensed</keyword> Daily from Washington, DC.First, what everyone's talking about: Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe <keyword id="60973" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Biden">Biden</keyword> has selected Sen. Kamala Harris of California <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-vp-pick-kamala-harris-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as his running mate</a>. We've got a look at <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-kamala-harris-bio-age-family-key-positions-2019-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the policy positions</a> she took during the primary. Who are the power players influencing the Biden-Harris healthcare policy positions? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-people-advising-joe-biden-campaign-on-healthcare-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've got you covered right here</a>. If you'd like to subscribe to Business Insider to read even more of our reporting, I encourage you to use this <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/prime-discount?r=birefer-kleonard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">20% discount code for an annual subscription</a>. Don't forget we also offer a one-month trial for only $1. Today in healthcare: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-execs-share-how-a-democratic-presidency-would-boost-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Healthcare executives are making predictions about how a Biden win would boost their businesses</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-creates-new-program-to-transform-rural-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Trump administration wants rural communities to pitch them ideas to transform healthcare</a>, and — back to coronavirus news — <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a look at how convalescent plasma works.</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-execs-share-how-a-democratic-presidency-would-boost-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div type="image" title="Joe Biden" height="1000" width="1333" msid="77506673" hostid="261"></div></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-execs-share-how-a-democratic-presidency-would-boost-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Healthcare leaders are getting serious about what a Biden victory would mean for their businesses. 4 top execs share how a Democratic presidency would boost the industry.</a></h3><ul><li>Healthcare CEOs are giving investors a peek into how Democratic policies would help their their businesses. </li><li>Biden has promised to extend the role of government insurance, but publicly financed plans are often run by private insurers. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-execs-share-how-a-democratic-presidency-would-boost-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One healthcare CEO said he didn't think Biden would follow through on his promise to increase the corporate tax rate. </a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-execs-share-how-a-democratic-presidency-would-boost-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out my story here&gt;&gt;</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-creates-new-program-to-transform-rural-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div type="image" title="Seema Verma" height="1614" width="2152" msid="77506680" hostid="261"></div></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-creates-new-program-to-transform-rural-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Trump administration is taking ideas from rural communities to transform healthcare. We got an early look at the project.</a></h3><ul><li>Yesterday, I went to the White House to hear about a new project the <keyword id="3798493" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="trump-administration">Trump administration</keyword> is launching to help rural communities get healthcare to more people.</li><li>I got to interview Seema Verma, who oversees Medicare and Medicaid, and Brad Smith, who oversees the innovation center.</li><li>The project will award $5 million to 15 rural communities who can come up with their own ideas. Some ideas include better virtual care, home visits, or monitoring patients remotely. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-creates-new-program-to-transform-rural-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"It's about reforming the system," Verma told me.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-administration-creates-new-program-to-transform-rural-healthcare-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here's the full story&gt;&gt;</a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div type="image" title="Convalescent plasma covid 19" height="3333" width="5000" msid="77506689" hostid="261"></div></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In coronavirus news: Blood transfusions from recovered coronavirus patients could become the next FDA-approved treatment — here's how convalescent plasma works</a></h3><ul><li>The FDA is considering <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/fda-nears-decision-authorizing-covid-19-treatment-with-convalescent-plasma-11596055376">authorizing convalescent plasma</a> as an emergency treatment for COVID-19.</li><li>The therapy involves treating sick patients with the blood of those who have already recovered.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">But researchers still need to prove that the treatments are safe.</a></li></ul><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/convalescent-plasma-hyperimmune-globulin-treatment-coronavirus-patients-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read the full story from Aria Bendix here &gt;&gt;</a>More stories we're reading:<ul><li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-moderna-vaccine/u-s-inks-1-5-billion-deal-with-moderna-for-100-million-doses-of-covid-19-vaccine-idUSKCN2572T5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US inks $1.5 billion deal with Moderna for 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine</a> (Reuters)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-approves-coronavirus-vaccine-experts-say-needs-more-testing-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia has approved a coronavirus vaccine without widespread testing. Medical experts warn it could be dangerous.</a>(Business Insider)</li><li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2020/08/11/cvs-health-hub-construction-back-on-track-after-covid-19-shutdowns/#386c0c8e1c83" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CVS Health Hub openings back on track after Covid-19 shutdown</a> (Forbes)</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-zealand-lockdown-first-new-coronavirus-cases-101-days-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Zealand goes back into lockdown after reporting first new locally transmitted coronavirus cases in 102 days</a> (Insider)</li></ul>Thanks for reading! If you'd like to send me story ideas you can reach me at <a href="mailto:kleonard@businessinsider.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kleonard@businessinsider.com</a> or follow me on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/leonardkl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@LeonardKL</a>. You can email the whole team your ideas at <a href="mailto:healthcare@businessinsider.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">healthcare@businessinsider.com</a>.<a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/dispensed-daily">Click here to get Dispensed delivered to your inbox every day</a> — and take care!- Kimberly

Healthcare execs predict how a Biden win would boost their businesses

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The FDA has issued an emergency authorization for <keyword id="8956772" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="convalescent-plasma">convalescent plasma</keyword> treatment for <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword>.</li><li>The therapy involves treating sick patients with the blood of those who have already recovered.</li><li>Convalescent plasma is also the basis for a drug, hyperimmune globulin, which would deliver consistent antibody levels to patients.</li><li>But more research is needed to show the treatment is fully safe and effective. </li></ul>During the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, doctors discovered they could treat sick patients with the blood of those who had already recovered. The therapy, known as convalescent plasma, <a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/0003-4819-145-8-200610170-00139">helped reduce mortality</a> among people with acute infections. Now, the FDA has issued an emergency authorization for the therapy's use among COVID-19 patients.Antibodies develop in plasma, the liquid portion of blood — they're part of our body's natural response to a foreign pathogen. So the idea behind the treatment is to help sick people mount an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-antibodies-last-just-months-2020-7">antibody response</a> to the virus by transferring plasma intravenously from those who already have antibodies. "What we really need are drugs that, when given early, can prevent a symptomatic person from requiring hospitalization or very dramatically diminish the time that they're symptomatic," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zuck/videos/10112108870243761/">told Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg</a> last month. Convalescent plasma is promising in that regard. The emergency use authorization from the FDA will allow doctors to administer the treatment earlier in the course of an infection, when it's believed to be most effective. The agency was expected to authorize plasma treatment last week, but it was briefly delayed after federal health officials, including Fauci, called for more data from randomized control trials, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html#link-6683e0e3">The New York Times reported</a>.But Dr. Thomas File, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the available data on the treatment is still insufficient. "While the data to date show some positive signals that convalescent plasma can be helpful in treating individuals with COVID-19, especially if given early in the trajectory of disease, we lack the randomized controlled trial data we need to better understand its utility in <keyword id="8918466" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19-treatment">COVID-19 treatment</keyword>," he said in a statement on Sunday.As of Monday, more than 2,700 hospitals have already administered plasma therapy through an expanded-access program led by the Mayo Clinic. The program has delivered plasma to more than 100,000 patients, <a href="https://www.uscovidplasma.org/">according to the program website</a>.However, there are still major limitations to plasma therapy's widespread use. Plasma must be transferred quickly from a donor to a recipient — and both must have compatible blood types. The quantity is also limited, since it depends on blood donations. That means plasma isn't likely to be a long-term treatment for the virus. Instead, researchers and pharmaceutical companies see it as an interim therapy until a vaccine becomes readily available.<h2>Early research shows promise</h2><div type="image" title="A recovered coronavirus (COVID-19) patient donates blood samples for plasma extraction to help critically ill patients at the National Blood Transfusion Center." height="3840" width="5760" msid="77493416" hostid="261"></div>Preliminary studies on convalescent plasma have primarily focused on its efficacy among hospitalized patients.A <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.08.12.20169359v1.full.pdf">national study</a> of 35,000 hospitalized <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> patients, which is still awaiting peer review, found that patients less than 80 years old who weren't on a respirator and received plasma containing high levels of antibodies within three days of their diagnosis had a 35% lower mortality rate than those who were treated four or more days after their diagnosis.In <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-press-briefing-august-23-2020/">a White House briefing</a> on Sunday, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn mischaracterized these findings, stating that there was "a 35% improvement in survival" among "optimal patients." He added that if the data continued to pan out, 35 out of 100 people could be saved by receiving plasma therapy. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called this "a major advance in the treatment of patients." But Hahn walked back his remarks on Monday, following outcry from medical experts."I have been criticized for remarks I made Sunday night about the benefits of convalescent plasma. The criticism is entirely justified. What I should have said better is that the data show a relative risk reduction not an absolute risk reduction," Hahn <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveFDA/status/1298071620414824452">tweeted</a>.To know whether the therapy really impacts survival — and how much — researchers need to do more comparisons of plasma recipients and untreated patients.Some early data on this came from researchers at Mount Sinai in <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.20.20102236v1">May</a>, though that study hasn't yet been peer reviewed. The results showed that among hospitalized coronavirus patients, 18% of plasma recipients saw their conditions worsen two weeks after their transfusion compared to 24% of patients who didn't receive the treatment. But the study was small — only 39 patients received transfusions — and the results were only significant for patients who didn't need a ventilator. In <a href="https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.29.20162917v1">another study</a> (also not yet peer reviewed), researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that convalescent plasma reduced the mortality rate among hospitalized coronavirus patients by 57%.So far, research suggests that patients treated earlier in the course of their infection have better outcomes.A <a href="https://ajp.amjpathol.org/article/S0002-9440(20)30370-9/fulltext#%20">recent study</a> of 316 patients at Houston Methodist hospitals found that patients who received plasma transfusions within 72 hours of being admitted to the hospital had a lower risk of mortality over the next 28 days than patients who received transfusions after 72 hours had passed."We now have more evidence than ever that this century-old plasma therapy has merit, is safe, and can help reduce the death rate from this virus," Dr. James Musser, chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine at Houston Methodist, said in a statement.Mayo Clinic researchers also determined that the treatment was relatively safe among <a href="https://www.jci.org/articles/view/140200">5,000 adults with severe or life-threatening cases</a>. Less than 1% of the patients developed severe side effects within four hours of receiving a blood transfusion. Although transfusions always pose some risk to seriously ill patients, only four deaths were linked to the plasma therapy.<h2><keyword id="454572" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="drug-companies">Drug companies</keyword> are converting plasma into medicine</h2><div type="image" title="convalescent plasma" height="1459" width="2168" msid="77493419" hostid="261"></div>In May, a coalition of medical institutions, drug companies, nonprofits, and COVID-19 survivors launched "The Fight Is In Us" — a campaign to get more recovered coronavirus patients to donate blood. Some of that blood will be used for direct transfusions, and the rest will go toward manufacturing hyperimmune globulin, a drug built from convalescent plasma.The process of creating hyperimmune globulin involves pooling plasma from recovered patients and heat-treating it so that any remaining pathogens get destroyed. The result is a vial of medicine with consistent antibody levels that can easily be administered to patients. The drug focuses on the most common antibody found in blood — immunoglobulin G (IgG) — which usually confers long-term immunity."It's basically treated in a way that reduces the likelihood that it could pass on any infections," David Reich, president and chief operating officer of The Mount Sinai Hospital, told Business Insider in April. "Something like that could be helpful, potentially, to people in the early phase of the disease or potentially as prophylaxis against the disease."Mount Sinai is working with Emergent BioSolutions, a Maryland-based biopharmaceutical company, to <a href="https://investors.emergentbiosolutions.com/node/19686/pdf">develop a hyperimmune globulin product</a>. The group will study whether the drug can protect individuals at high risk of exposure, such as healthcare workers, from getting infected in the first place.A <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-plasma-treatment-takeda-alliance-development-timeline-2020-6">coalition of 10 drug companies</a> involved in the "The Fight Is In Us" campaign is also creating a hyperimmune globulin drug. The research is led by Takeda, Japan's largest pharmaceutical company, and CSL Behring, a Pennsylvania-based biotech company. They're hoping to determine whether hyperimmune globulin improves outcomes for coronavirus patients with severe cases."Our goal here isn't to continue to produce hyperimmune globulin ad infinitum," Christopher Morabito, head of research and development for plasma-based therapies at Takeda, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-plasma-treatment-takeda-alliance-development-timeline-2020-6">previously told Business Insider</a>. "Our goal here is to have an effective therapy to bridge us to a point where either the pandemic is over because it dies out, or because there's a vaccine available, or until there are many more effective treatments for patients with this disease."The coalition hopes to secure regulatory approval from the FDA by the end of 2020. But there are plenty of hurdles: Drug quantities are still limited by the quantity of plasma people donate. Companies researching hyperimmune globulin and direct convalescent plasma treatments also still need to prove that the approaches are safe.This story has been updated with new information. It was originally published August 11, 2020.

The FDA has authorized convalescent plasma treatment for coronavirus patients — but some scientists worry it's too soon

Washington, Jun 24 () Prior infection with the novel coronavirus provides protection against reinfection, according to a new study in hamsters which showed that treatment with convalescent serum limits virus replication in their lungs. Researchers, including Yoshihiro Kawaoka from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, demonstrated that both low and high doses of the novel corovirus, SARS-COV-2 replicate well in the airways of juvenile as well as adult hamsters. "SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters mounted neutralising antibody responses and were protected against rechallenge with SARS-CoV-2," the study, published in the journal PNAS, noted. They said the virus can also infect both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, causing severe disease in the lungs of infected Syrian hamsters. According to the research, the lung injuries seen in the hamsters include lesions in X-ray scans called "ground glass opacities" which are also reported in human COVID-19 patients. The scans also revealed a region of gas in the cavity surrounding the hamsters' lungs, which according to the scientists indicated severe lung damage. They said the most severe effects were observed within eight days after infection, and improvement seen within 10 days, after which the scientists said they no longer detected virus in the organs of most of the hamsters. However, the study noted that lung damage persisted for 14 days in a majority of the animals, and for at least 20 days in most of those infected with a high dose. In the research, the scientists were able to detect virus in all of the respiratory organs of the infected hamsters within six days of infection, and also from samples collected from their brains. They also found the virus in portions of the brain's olfactory bulb, which is involved in smell. According to the study, the initial dose of the virus did not affect how much of it was ultimately found in the hamster organs. In order to determine whether the hamsters developed antibodies against the virus which protected them from reinfection, the researchers administered another round of the virus to a number of the same animals about three weeks following initial infection, and were unable to detect virus in their respiratory tracts. They found the virus in the airways of control animals which were not previously infected. "The animals all possessed antibodies and did not get sick again, which suggests they developed protective immunity," said study co-author Pete Halfmann from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "But we still can't say how long this protection lasts," Halfmann added. In the study, the researchers also assessed the effectiveness of convalescent plasma treatment in hamsters. They infected new hamsters with the novel coronavirus and then gave them antibody-laden sera from other recovered hamsters either one day or two days following infection. Hamsters that received this treatment within a day of infection had much lower amounts of infectious virus in their nasal passages and lungs than those given a mock treatment, the scientists said. The study noted that the hamsters which received sera on day two showed a less appreciable benefit, though they still had lower levels of virus in their respiratory organs compared to control animals. "This shows us that convalescent sera, still experimental in human patients, may be part of an effective treatment for COVID-19," Kawaoka said. VIS VIS

Hamsters develop immunity to COVID-19, protected by convalescent plasma: Study

Beijing, May 18 () Researchers have used a single-cell analysis method to identify multiple antibodies from COVID-19 patients that could neutralise the novel coronavirus, an advance which may lead to better therapeutics against the deadly disease. According to the scientists, including Sunney Xie, director of the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics at Peking University, antibodies could be successfully used to treat viruses like Ebola, AIDS, and MERS. In the current study, published in the journal Cell, the scientists used a method called high-throughput single-cell genome sequencing to identify the antibodies from convalescent plasma, a component of patients' blood. Citing earlier studies, the researchers said antibodies can lead to significant recovery of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent patients' plasma, which contains neutralising antibodies produced by the immune response, has led to a clear clinical improvement of both mild and severe COVID-19 patients, they noted in the study. However, the scientists said screening for potent neutralising molecules called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from the immune system's B cells is often a slow and laborious process. They said the existing methods are particularly not ideal when responding to a global health emergency. Since only some B cells produce antibodies specific to neutralising the virus, the researchers said, a process to rapidly screen for those cells producing the desired immune molecules was needed. In this study, the researchers demonstrated a rapid and efficient single-cell genome sequencing method to narrow down on specific B cells, and identify SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies from convalescent COVID-19 patients. "We showed that high-throughput single-cell sequencing could lead to the identification of highly potent neutralizing mAbs that have strong therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy," the scientists noted in the study. The method could greatly assist in the intervention of prevailing and emerging infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, they said. Following the discovery of the antibodies, they tested them in genetically engineered mice expressing the human form of the receptor ACE2, which is the gateway protein used by the novel coronavirus to enter cells. From this experiment, the researchers found that some of the antibodies identified by the scientists could indeed neutralise the virus. "The potent neutralizing antibodies we identified may provide an effective therapeutic and prophylactic solution, evidenced by the results on hACE2 transgenic mice," the scientists noted. They added that clinical trials using the antibodies are currently underway. VISVIS

'Method to rapidly identify antibodies against coronavirus from convalescent plasma developed'

Mumbai, Jul 8 () Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Wednesday inaugurated a Plasma Therapy Unit for treating COVID-19 patients at the Seven Hills Hospital in suburban Andheri and urged those who have recovered from the deadly infection to help save lives by donating blood plasma. The unit is an initiative of initiative of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It will offer convalescent plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients using donated blood plasma from those who have recovered. "We are facing an unprecedented challenge to our health in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising to the occasion, our doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, the police, municipal and government staff are working tirelessly to deliver effective healthcare to all those affected by the virus," said Tendulkar. "Researchers around the globe are working to find an effective vaccine and treatment. In this, plasma therapy has emerged as an option to treat critically ill patients. I congratulate the BMC on starting this service that will save lives," added the former batsman, who has multiple records to his name. He urged those who have recovered to donate their blood and save critically ill patients. "I appeal to people who have recovered completely from COVID to come forward and donate their blood for plasma therapy and help to save lives of patients who are critically ill," said Tendulkar. Plasma of a donor, who has recovered, contains high levels of antibodies against the pathogen that is the cause of the disease. When this convalescent plasma is transfused into another patient with the same disease, it helps in generating immediate immune response. Maharashtra has over 2 lakh COVID-19 cases, the highest in the country. NRB PM PM

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