Second plasma trial centre to come up soon in Pune

PUNE: Symbiosis Medical College could soon be the second institution in the city after BJ Medical College to conduct convalescent plasma therapy trials .
According to a source, Symbiosis Medical College expressed interest in conducting plasma therapy trials. The state government then sent a proposal to the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI). It was in the final stages of approval, said the source in the state government.
A total of 21 medical colleges were selected to be a part of the Platina trial launched by the chief minister last month. Rs16.65 crore has been allocated for the project from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Former medical education secretary Sanjay Mukherjee, who has been at the forefront of the project, said the trials had commenced at various centres and treatment with plasma therapy had shown positive results.
Recovered Covid-19 patients, whose plasma contains antibodies against coronavirus, can donate plasma 28 days after recovery, and again after four weeks. The plasma therapy benefited many patients in the state in the absence of definite treatment drugs for Covid-19, added Mukherjee.
Pune divisional commissioner Saurabh Rao said they would be pushing for more plasma donors. Till now, BJ Medical College has collected 500 units of plasma. Of them, a total of 154 units were given to the needy patients. “Only seven of them died due to other complications,” Rao said.