Convalescent plasma therapy did not show benefit in reducing mortality risk among Covid-19 patients, according to an interim analysis of a randomised controlled trial done at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here to assess the efficacy of this mode of treatment.
Dr Randeep Guleria, Delhi Director, AIIMS has said that convalescent plasma therapy (CP) may be useful in early stages in a Covid-19 patient who is having a moderate disease and it should have sufficient antibodies to be effective.
For plasma therapy to be effective, plasma must contain a sufficient amount of neutralizing antibody against that infection, the doctor said.
A study by India Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study reported on Tuesday (September 8) said that CP therapy did not help in reducing deaths due to coronavirus. The apex medical research has made these revelations to investigate the effectiveness of plasma therapy for the treatment of COVID-19 after conducting a study in 39 hospitals across India.
“Convalescent Plasma was not associated with a reduction in mortality or progression to severe Covid-19. This trial has high generalizability and approximates real-life setting of convalescent plasma therapy in settings with limited laboratory capacity. A priori measurement of neutralizing antibody titres in donors and participants may further clarify the role of CP in the management of Covid-19,” concluded the findings of the study.
Dr Guleria said the government is working aggressively on the vaccine. “We have three vaccines which are in various stages of clinical trials. The Oxford vaccine is also doing well but there are some issues regarding its side effects that will be sorted soon. But I think the trials are going rapidly and if we are able to show that these vaccines are really safe and they give good immunity then maybe by the end of the year or by early next year, we should be able to have a vaccine available in our country,” he said.
