Covid-19 pandemic: Plasma therapy gets thumbs down from expert panel

The absence of drugs to target the Sars-CoV-2 virus had triggered research on repurposed drugs, as well as biologics

Convalescent plasma (plasma-derived therapy) from Covid-19 patients and products derived from it have failed to get a thumbs up from the expert panel advising the Indian drug regulator on Covid vaccines and drugs.
 
The subject expert committee (SEC) noted recently that clinical trials on convalescent plasma in Mumbai’s Wock­hardt Hospitals and on hyperimmune globulins by Intas Pharmaceuticals (Intas) have not shown any remarkable difference in efficacy between the treatment and control arms. The panel has rejected Intas’ application for restricted emergency-use authorisation for the blood product.
 
The absence of drugs to target the Sars-CoV-2 virus had triggered research