FDA Fast-Tracks Promising COVID-19 Treatment From
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by Tyler Durden
Wed, 04/08/2020 - 15:14
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While the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 has dominated headlines for weeks, a new method of treatment developed by Johns Hopkins Hospital has just been given special approval by the FDA to be fast-tracked.
Known as convalescent serum therapy, the antibody-rich blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors is drawn, bagged, and given to critically ill patients.
While the FDA began allowing limited use of the therapy on March 24 for hospitals in Houston and New York City (with an "expanded access program" pending), Johns Hopkins is concurrently developing the therapy with the goal of preventing otherwise healthy front-line medical staff from getting sick. The university is awaiting FDA approval for a second clinical trial on patients who are slightly to moderately ill to see if it can reduce or eliminate COVID-19.