DELMARVA-At least five hospitals on Delmarva are participating in a U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trial that is exploring convalescent plasma as treatment for COVID-19. These investigational trials are also in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic.
Health experts say we're 12-18 months away from a COVID-19 vaccination, and though these trials are in its early stages, there is limited data to suggest convalescent plasma is helping.
Convalescent plasma is being explored as an investigational treatment and nothing has been proven in terms of its clinical effectiveness or safety by the FDA.
The plasma is collected from people who have recovered from COVID-19 for administration to patients with COVID-19. According to the FDA, "use of convalescent plasma has been studied in outbreaks of other respiratory infections, including the 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic."
Although preliminary data is promising, the FDA says convalescent plasma "has not yet been shown to be safe and effective as a treatment for COVID-19. Therefore, it is important to study the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in clinical trials."
Nonetheless, BeeBe Healthcare, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Atlantic General Hospital, and Bayhealth are all participating in these trials.
Atlantic General Hospital says they have seen improvements among the patients they have administered too.
Nanticoke is expected to begin administration soon, and PRMC says they began administering to patients on Monday.