The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 24, gave its approval for plasma therapy to treat Covid patients in emergency use.
In this technique, antibody-rich blood plasma is collected from people who were infected the Covid-19 and now have recovered from the disease. The initial trials conducted by the USFDA show this treatment is safe. However, it also added that more researches are needed to prove its effectiveness.
Reacting to this news, Delhi Chief Minister Arvid Kejriwal said that the US’s move was inspired by the success of Delhi model of plasma therapy.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “They used to say, back in the day — what America does today, India would do tomorrow. Delhi has changed it. Now, what Delhi did yesterday, America does today. Congratulations Delhiites for achieving this for our country.”
They used to say, back in the day – what America does today, India would do tomorrow.
Delhi has changed it. Now – what Delhi did yesterday, America does today.
Congratulations Delhiites for achieving this for our country. https://t.co/ub18gZm7kP
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 24, 2020
In April, Delhi Government was the first in the country to apply for permission from the Centre to carry out plasma therapy trials at Lok Nayak Hospital.
The centre allowed Delhi Government to use plasma therapy in Covid-19 patients after the initial results showed encouraging results.
On July 2, India’s first plasma bank was established at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) . The bank’s main purpose was to provide convalescent plasma to patients free of cost.
Second plasma bank was established at Lok Nayak Hospital.
According to a statement issued by the Delhi Government, Delhi’s model of fighting the deadly pandemic was soon followed by other states.
Delhi government thinks that plasma therapy has played one of the most important roles in controlling the Covid 19.
Till August 11, 921 recovered patients had donated plasma at ILBS, including 86 healthcare workers, 209 entrepreneurs, 8 media personnel, 28 policemen, 50 students, 32 government officials, and 508 servicemen, self-employed professionals, non-residents of Delhi, among others. Fourteen recovered patients have donated plasma more than once.
The FDA has approved the use of plasma transfusions on coronavirus patients under certain conditions.
This treatment will be given only in emergency use. Full approval to this treatment will be given only after the emergency use shows no side effects.
Early researches done by the FDA show that mortality can be decreased if blood plasma is injected within the first three days of admittance to hospital. It also improves overall health of Covid-19 patients.
“It appeared that the product is safe and we’re comfortable with that and we continue to see no concerning safety signals,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.