Three quarters of patients admitted to hospital with a corona infection already produce antibodies on a large scale within ten days after the infection, according to an analysis by Erasmus MC and the Sanquin blood bank. Therefore, the administration of other people’s antibodies has hardly any effect, so that the leading ConCOVID study into the administration of antibodies is immediately paused.
Eighteen hospitals participated in the study that started in late March. At the time of analysis, 86 patients had enrolled in the study.
The antibodies were administered by transfusions of other people’s blood plasma. The prepared plasma from the already healed patients is expected to help control the spread of the virus throughout the current patient’s body and aid recovery in times when no real drug is available.
The research team led by internist-infectiologist Bart Rijnders was surprised by the results of the analysis, according to a hospital spokesperson. “The rate at which critically ill patients produce antibodies on a large scale (within ten days, ed.) Was not expected.”
Antibodies may need to be administered earlier if study is continued
The study may continue with other patients. Erasmus MC and Sanquin want to administer the antibodies at an earlier stage.
This would concern patients who do have complaints, but who have not been hospitalized, and those who are vulnerable who are still more likely to be admitted to the hospital. Both groups can be traced if they have reported to the doctor.
In addition, both agencies want to continue to administer plasma to the quarter of the patients who do not yet produce antibodies, in order to test the effect of the antibodies administered.
Paused study does not affect the million grant that Sanquin received
Worldwide, much is expected of the administration of antibodies to corona patients. An international collaboration is currently investigating the possibilities of antibodies and whether it as a medicine can help in the treatment.
That is one of the reasons why Sanquin received 10 million euros in mid-June to collect 30,000 kilos of blood plasma. Pausing the lead study in the Netherlands will have no effect on the fundraiser, a Sanquin spokesperson said. “That money and plasma is intended to develop a medicine that can be used in a second wave for vulnerable groups.”
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