UC College of medicine, UC Health to examine potential COVID-19 treatment

Protocol allows expanded access to convalescent plasma for the sickest patients

NEWS RELEASE: Bill Bangert, Public Information Officer

CINCINNATI, OH (April 14, 2020) – The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health are continuing their efforts in fighting the spread of the coronavirus by activating as a site to follow a research protocol from the Mayo Clinic to administer convalescent plasma to the sickest patients with COVID-19.

On March 24, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began allowing researchers to request emergency authorization for the use of convalescent plasma which shows potential as a treatment for the disease.

“In initial cases, patients with severe COVID-19 who have been treated with convalescent plasma have shown improvement, but more research is needed,” said Dr. Moises Huaman, assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UC College of Medicine, a UC health physician, and the local principal investigator on this protocol. “With no other approved treatment options currently available, this therapy is worth exploring, especially for the sickest COVID-19 patients.”

Convalescent plasma is obtained from people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have been free of symptoms for 28 days. This program may allow access to that plasma for hospitalized patients infected with the novel coronavirus who have severe or life-threatening COVID-19, or who may be at high risk for progression to severe or life-threatening disease. Once they have registered on the protocol and given informed consent, patients may receive one unit of convalescent plasma obtained from an individual who has recovered from a proven case of infection with the coronavirus. 

UC and UC Health are among hundreds of universities and academic health systems across the nation to register with the research protocol from the Mayo Clinic. Working collaboratively with academic, government and industry partners, the Mayo Clinic is serving as the lead institution for the national Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients with COVID-19 Program to collect and provide convalescent plasma to patients in need across the country. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who recover from COVID-19 do so, at least in part, because their blood contains antibodies which are capable of fighting the virus that causes the illness. Participating in a national, multicenter protocol will allow for analysis of many participants who receive plasma to help determine if this treatment is safe and effective, according to Huaman.

He adds that the use of convalescent therapy dates back to the 1890s. Convalescent plasma has been used to prevent and/or treat a wide range of diseases including measles, SARS, Ebola, H1N1 flu and polio. Patients with COVID-19 may improve faster if they receive plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 because it may have the ability to fight the virus that causes COVID-19.

“UC and UC Health are at the forefront of finding solutions for this pandemic,” said Dr. Brett Kissela, Albert Barnes Voorheis Professor and chair of the UC Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, senior associate dean for clinical research at the UC College of Medicine and chief of research services for UC Health. “With the research and clinical expertise present at our academic health system, we are working to find and expedite treatments for this virus and improve lives of those who are affected in our community and beyond. This protocol is only one way we are making strides as we continue working together to find ways to eradicate this.”

UC and UC Health are also part of the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project (CCPP19), a group of physicians and scientists from 57 institutions in 46 states who have self-organized for the purpose of investigating the use of convalescent plasma in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Huaman also says participation in this process presents the potential for additional research opportunities around COVID-19.

“The length of this project will depend on other parallel clinical trials that are looking at whether this strategy or other strategies are effective or not,” says Huaman. “As we gain more knowledge of what actually works, we will be able to determine the long-term usefulness of convalescent plasma. If in the future, through clinical trials, we find out that convalescent plasma or other treatments are beneficial, then they may become routine clinical practice for COVID-19 patients.”

As part of the Mayo Clinic protocol, UC and UC Health will be working with Hoxworth Blood Center to obtain the convalescent plasma from eligible donors. Access to plasma through this program will depend on the availability of convalescent plasma and donors.

“The mission of Hoxworth Blood Center is to save lives in the community,” says Dr. David Oh, MD, chief medical officer for Hoxworth Blood Center. “The trial involving convalescent plasma therapy for critically ill COVID-19 patients is an extension of our mission.”

Hoxworth Blood Center is seeking individuals who:

• Have recovered from a documented infection of COVID-19 and have been symptom free for at least 28 days. 
• Believe they had COVID-19. The product will be tested for antibodies following donation. If your plasma does not contain high levels of antibodies to COVID-19, it may be used to help save the lives of other patients.

If you tested positive for COVID-19, or believe you had COVID-19, and have been fully recovered for at least 28 days, please go to https://bit.ly/covid19plasma to fill out the eligibility form and get scheduled for a donation today. Appointments are required for donation.

If you are a physician, hospital representative or patient looking for more information, please email HoxCovid19@uc.edu. 

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Click here for the full story from U.C. Public Information Officer Cedric Ricks