COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), a coronavirus that is believed to have originated from bats in China, as it has close genetic similarity to bat coronaviruses.
One of the most effective ways to prevent a disease caused by a virus is the development of a vaccine. Vaccines typically contain the deactivated virus or specific elements that entice the immune system to develop antibodies against it. Antibodies bind to the viral units and help the immune system recognize and destroy them.
However, the creation of a vaccine takes a long time, as it must go through a full cycle of preclinical and clinical trials. Another source of antibodies is the plasma of another patient who has recovered from the same disease (convalescent plasma). Injection of plasma containing antibodies has been used to treat diseases such as polio, measles, mumps, and viral respiratory diseases for over a century.
The FDA recently approved use of convalescent plasma to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients [1, 2] after several case reports in which it proved to be effective in significantly reducing viral load [3, 4].
Baylor Research Institute has initiated a Phase 1 study comparing the efficacy and safety of high-titer anti-SARS-CoV-2 plasma against best supportive care in 115 hospitalized patients with COVID-19-associated interstitial pneumonia [5]. All of this study’s results are expected in December 2022.
References
- Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma – Emergency INDs
- Tanne, J. H. (2020). Covid-19: FDA approves use of convalescent plasma to treat critically ill patients.
- Zhang, B., Liu, S., Tan, T., Huang, W., Dong, Y., Chen, L., … & Zou, Y. (2020). Treatment with convalescent plasma for critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Chest.
- Shen, C., Wang, Z., Zhao, F., Yang, Y., Li, J., Yuan, J., … & Wei, J. (2020). Treatment of 5 Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 With Convalescent Plasma. JAMA.
- Evaluating Convalescent Plasma to Decrease Coronavirus Associated Complications. A Phase I Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of High-titer Anti-Sars-CoV-2 Plasma vs Best Supportive Care in Hospitalized Patients With Interstitial Pneumonia Due to COVID-19