AIIMS to conduct clinical trial of plasma therapy; will seek permission from DCGI

In latest development on convalescent plasma rapy, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is planning to conduct a clinical trial. It has also worked out modalities of taking approvals from Drug Controller General (DGCI) of India. Informing about development, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said mode of treatment in COVID-19 is still at an "experimental st" and re is a need for good and well-conducted research trials before its benefit and this mode of rapy can be recommended for routine use in coronavirus patients.

"AIIMS is working with ICMR to conduct a clinical trial on efficacy of convalescent plasma rapy in COVID-19 patients," he said. doctor said it is necessary for all institutes to take necessary approvals from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Drug Controller General of India and follow proper clinical practice guidelines for this research.

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"In very limited studies, globally, convalescent plasma as an junct to or supportive rapies and treatments has shown some benefit in manment of severe patients of COVID-19," Guleria said. He also underlined that plasma has to be tested for its safety and it should have sufficient antibodies to be useful for giving it to COVID-19 patients. "Giving plasma from a recovered patient without testing wher it has eugh antibody titer or t may cause more harm than good as it can cause transfusion-related reactions," he said.

Plasma rapy involves transfusion of blood from an individual who has recovered from Coronavirus to a patient battling virus, assuming that blood of recovered person might have developed antibodies to fight virus. 

RE | AIIMS chief decodes Plasma rapy, says t eugh antibodies in recovered persons

Health Ministry on plasma rapy

Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said that rapy is still being experimented upon and  evidence that this can be used as effective COVID-19 treatment has been established. Ministry warned that unless rapy is approved by ICMR after concluding a study,  inappropriate claims be me as it can be harmful to patient.

He furr clarified that unless ICMR concludes its study and a robust proof is available, plasma rapy should be used only for research or trial purposes. He ted that United States Food and Drug ministration (US FDA) has also viewed plasma rapy as experimentation and has t yet been approved for use.

Ministry's clarification came as more and more states look to plasma rapy as a potential way to treat COVID-19 patients. Uttar Presh, Maharashtra, Mhya Presh, Karnataka, Bihar and several or states are mulling over starting trials for this rapy after encouraging results from patients in Delhi and abro.

RE | COVID-19: Plasma rapy likely to begin from Apr 25 in Karnataka

RE | Plasma rapy in experimental st, t COVID treatment until ICMR approves: Health Min