Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Surprise! Trump’s COVID-19 Treatment Included Singaporean Blood Plasma


Wed 07 Oct 2020 | 01:42 PM
Ahmed Yasser

Blood samples from three patients in Singapore used for the experimental treatment for US President Donald Trump, according to an Asian Scientist Magazine report published on Monday.

The Magazine's report noted that Trump, last Friday, received a “high dose” of an experimental antibody therapy known as REGN-COV2 developed by American biotechnology company Regeneron.

In addition, he was given multiple doses of the antiviral drug, Remdesivir, and steroid dexamethasone usually used to treat inflammation in people who have severe Covid-19 cases.

On other hand, an Asian Scientist explained that the human plasma was supplied by three Singapore patients through an agreement with the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.

Last September, Regeneron firm announced positive data from a Phase One trial involving 275 patients. In contrast, the trial showed that REGN-COV2 reduced viral levels and improved symptoms.

Noteworthy, REGN-COV2 treatment, is a combination of two antibodies: infection-fighting proteins that were developed to bind to the part of the new coronavirus that it uses to invade human cells.

The vaccines work by teaching the body to make its own antibodies, but scientists are also testing ready-made antibodies from convalescent plasma, taken from the blood of recovered patients.

The company did not detail what these side effects were, but Dr Arun Swaminath, a doctor at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital, explained that in general, mild reactions to IV-therapies include fevers, chills and fatigue. In addition, more serious symptoms include chest pain and breath shortness .

Earlier, Trump revealed that he and first lady Melania tested positive for the virus, hours after Hope Hicks, one of his closest aides tested positive for COVID-19, and he left Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday and will continue treatment at the White House.