Update on COVID-19: A Race Against Time and Blood Plasma
A Race against Time
And the need for Blood Plasma from Recovered COVID-19 individuals…
Worldwide cases confirmed 1,140,327 and 233,930 recovered with 60,887 deaths. United States cases confirmed 278,568 and 9,920 recovered with 7,163 deaths. Data as of April 4th, 2020 from Johns Hopkin’s University.
Phase I Clinical Trial begun in the United States
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) in Seattle has begun clinical trial with 45 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 to 55 years on March 16th. The vaccine is investigational over a period of six weeks to evaluate different doses for safety and its ability to induce an immune response.
The vaccine, mRNA-1273 was developed by Cambridge Massachusetts’ biotech company Moderna, Inc. and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). On February 24th, mRNA-1273 was ready for its first Phase of human clinical trials. Indicated in my previous article on Medium.com “A Stampede to Mitigate COVID-19”.
Phase I Clinical Trial soon to be in Israel
MIGAL Research Institute in Israel on the cusp with a Vaccine as Israeli Scientist announced release soon. The Galilee Research Institute is said to be very close to a vaccine for COVID-19 with regulatory approval for release in approximately 90 days.
Over the last four years, MIGAL has been working on a vaccine to combat the Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV). This began as an effort to find a cure for a bronchial disease affecting poultry. In preclinical trials, carried out at the Veterinary Institute in Israel, the vaccine has been proven to be effective with high levels of anti-IBV antibodies.
Currently, MIGAL is in the middle of this process and is hopeful to have a vaccine in soon. Of course, they would then need to go through the regulatory process, as well as clinical trials with humans and ultimately a mass production.
The good news is Israel’s Ministry’s Director General was already instructed to fast track the approval process. Thus, extensive discussion with potential partners are underway to accelerate the in-human clinical trials. This and safety approvals would require an additional time.
What should be happening in the Interim?
Recovered COVID-19 individuals who are no longer sick can now help to save lives. Infected patients are in dire need of blood plasma because they now carry antibodies against COVID-19.
Blood is composed of four parts: red and white cells, platelets and plasma. Red blood cells carry oxygen, while white blood cells fight infections and help protect the body from foreign materials. They produce protective antibodies to overpower germs and devour bad bacteria. Although, they are short lived only surviving a few days to a few weeks, they have strength in numbers. A single drop of blood can contain anywhere from 7,000 to 25,000 white blood cells and that number can increase if an invading infection persists. White blood cells are developed in bone marrow from stem cells.
Platelets are cells that are responsible for clotting of the blood. If a vessel is damaged, platelets will rush to the site of injury and form a plug or clot to stop the bleeding.
Blood Plasma
Plasma on the other hand is the liquid portion of the blood. It is comprised of 55 percent of the blood’s volume and it is, itself 92 percent water. It also contains salt, clotting elements, antibodies and proteins. Plasma carries the cells and platelets throughout the body as well as transports nutrients and waste to be processed by the kidneys and liver. As we know, antibodies help the body to fight off illness and infection. When Plasma is removed or separated from the total blood, it is light yellow in color and consist of clotting elements, antibodies and proteins. These are the three important elements that come along with plasma donation from an individual and vital in treating a disease or infection.
There are many plasma donation locations across the United States and if everyone who has survived COVID-19 give a plasma donation we can help against the fight of COVID-19. It only takes one, then two, three and so on…
In addition to a vaccine, it may not be enough but it is more than a slight spark of hope that there could be light at the end of the tunnel, after all.
Reference
Maayan Jaffee Hoffman: “Israeli Scientists: ‘In a Few Weeks, We Will Have Coronavirus Vaccine’.” JPost.com, 15 Mar. 2020,
https://medium.com/@indra_asserfea/a-stampede-to-mitigate-covid-19-870712ad5514
Ofir Akunis: Science and Technology Minister, Israel
Dr. Chen Katz: MIGAL’s Biotechnology Group Leader
David Zigdon: MIGAL CEO
Eliraz, Esti, and Israel Today. “Israeli Breakthrough in Coronavirus Vaccine Imminent.” Israel Today, Israel Today, 17 Mar. 2020, www.israeltoday.co.il/read/israeli-breakthrough-for-coronavirus-vaccine-imminent/.
