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A clinical trial is about to be launched in France. The blood plasma of people recovered from Covid-19 will be transfused to patients in the acute phase of the disease in order to transmit the right antibodies to them.
Covid-19 convalescent plasma shows antibodies developed by their organism. Capable of fighting the virus, they could be the solution to treat the patients in acute phase of the disease. Not long ago, the Americans announced that they wanted to use a treatment based on the blood plasma donated by the cured patients. France seems convinced that this could be a good solution to help patients with the new coronavirus.
A clinical trial, dubbed Coviplasm, will be launched in the country from April 7. Conducted by the EFS (French Blood Establishment) in partnership with hospitals and INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), this test consists of transfuse Covid-19 convalescent blood plasma to patients with the disease. "This clinical trial involves the transfusion of plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients, containing antibodies to the virus, which could transfer this immunity to a patient with Covid-19", explains a joint press release.
Samples from around 200 patients who have been cured for at least two weeks will be taken from this Tuesday in Ile-de-France, in the Grand-Est and in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The press release reveals that "recovered Covid-19 patients will be personally invited to donate their plasma to the EFS ". The clinical trial will count 60 patients in Parisian hospitals, including "half will benefit from the plasma-convalescent intake". A first report is expected within two to three weeks. Depending on the results, the clinical trial could continue and be extended to other regions of France.
EFS is working to find antibodies to Covid-19 "in a representative sample of blood donors who donate during a specific period " for'"get a picture of the spread of the virus in France. "
Dr. Jeffrey Henderson, associate professor of medicine and molecular microbiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, recalled that before vaccines, this method had already worked to treat measles, diphtheria but also spanish flu. If for the moment, the hypothesis remains uncertain for Covid-19, this clinical trial remains a real hope in the fight against the new coronavirus. The plasma of healed people has also been shown to be effective against Ebola or SARS.
Coronavirus: blood donation is necessary
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by Sarah Chekroun