Coronavirus

Two New Trials Look at Whether Antibodies in Plasma Help Treat or Prevent COVID-19

Coronavirus. Source: CDC.

UAB and Johns Hopkins University are seeking volunteers for two COVID-19 treatment and prevention studies that involve the effectiveness of antibodies to treat early-stage coronavirus and to prevent those exposed to the virus from catching the disease.

The trials are to assess whether blood plasma is effective as an outpatient treatment, and they are being conducted at the Infectious Disease Clinic at UAB Hospital-Highlands.

If the plasma option is deemed effective, it would be one of the lower-cost options for treating and/or preventing the COVID-19 illness worldwide, compared to vaccines, which might be too costly for some people and countries.

One trial will help determine whether antibodies from people who have recovered from COVID-19 can help people who have been recently exposed, or those who have been recently diagnosed and have symptoms, avoid getting very sick.

Other antibody trials also are being conducted on people who have needed hospitalization.

Researchers are looking for volunteers who were tested for COVID-19 no more than five days ago and were diagnosed as positive, and who still have symptoms but haven’t been hospitalized. For the second study, they are looking for volunteers who were in close contact with someone who had COVID-19 no more than three days ago and have no symptoms.

Scientists are hoping the studies will help determine whether giving people antibodies earlier in the illness is effective in treating early-stage coronavirus and preventing those exposed to it from developing the disease.

If you think you’ve been exposed or are newly diagnosed and have symptoms, contact Johns Hopkins today – if too many days pass, you may not qualify to participate.

To determine if you qualify, call 888-506-1199  or visit covidplasmatrial.org to take the enrollment questionnaire. This study is entirely voluntary, and participants will be compensated.