Palace expects ‘positive’ results from convalescent plasma study

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. during a press conference at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on January 4, 2018. JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – Malacañang on Saturday expressed optimism about the study on the convalescent plasma transfusion as treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) would yield “positive results.”

“We hope this study will yield positive results and be our country’s contribution to the global effort to develop Covid-19 treatment,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque issued the statement on Saturday night, as he noted that the Palace welcomes the start of the government-funded study on the use of convalescent blood plasma as one of the modes of therapy for Covid-19.

Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña announced that the clinical study of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) on convalescent plasma transfusion as possible adjunctive therapy to prevent Covid-19 progression already started on Wednesday.

Adjunctive therapy is a treatment used to support the main or primary treatment of diseases.

As definite therapy for Covid-19 is still lacking, the clinical study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of convalescent plasma transfusion as adjunctive therapy for the novel coronavirus.

Convalescent plasma is taken from Covid-19 patients’ blood who recovered from the highly-infectious disease and contains neutralizing antibodies against the new coronavirus.

Roque said the UP-PGH’s ongoing study would be funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“The use of convalescent plasma as adjunctive therapy for patients hospitalized for Covid-19 is being undertaken by the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, with funding support from the DOST,” he said.

As of Saturday, the Philippines has reported 41,830 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 11,453 recoveries and 1,290 deaths.

Michael Ryan, executive director of World Health Organization’s health emergencies program, earlier said the use of convalescent plasma is a valid approach in treating infectious diseases.

Ryan said this was done in previous outbreaks such as the H1N1 influenza virus pandemic, 2003 SARS-CoV-1 epidemic, and the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic.

The Philippines started the call for blood donations from Covid-19 survivors in April.

The study on the convalescent plasma transfusion will run for 12 months, DOST earlier said.