There have been all kinds of debates about the best potential treatments for the novel coronavirus and plasma has been in the spotlight for a really long time now.
It’s been revealed that there’s no evidence for or against recommending convalescent plasma for treating patients who are hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a government panel, addressing the issue this week.
Reviewing available research on convalescent plasma
NBC News revealed that the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel, part of the National Institutes of Health, said it had reviewed all of the available research on convalescent plasma, and this also included the FDA’s analysis that led to its emergency use authorization.
“There are currently no data from well-controlled, adequately powered randomized clinical trials that demonstrate the efficacy and safety of convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19,” the group posted online.
Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said that this is an extremely “important” statement. A thing that’s worth mentioning is the fact that Topol has previously criticized the FDA’s emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma.
A new and important statement by @NIH that is in sharp disagreement with the “very historic breakthrough” and “lifesaving” impact of convalescent plasma by @SteveFDA @SecAzar @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/k2kAHMqHh0 pic.twitter.com/giSnjO4VKa
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 1, 2020
He continued and said: “We need to thank the @NIH Panel for standing up with the truth, issuing this update today, knowing it is at odds with @WhiteHouse @HHSgov and @US_FDA And thanks so much @MoNscience for bringing it to my attention.”
It’s also important to note the fact that the data that’s been cited by the FDA is based on a preliminary study of convalescent plasma from the Mayo Clinic.
You can check out the complete original study in order to learn all the details that have been made available.
