The Lens: Recovered COVID-19 patients in New Orleans area donate blood to California biotech firm working on treatment

Recovered COVID-19 patients in New Orleans area donate blood to California biotech firm working on treatment

The race to find a treatment for COVID-19 is in full swing as researchers in labs across the world attempt to unravel the unique properties of this disease, and find ways to neutralize it. To aid in the effort, recovered patients in New Orleans — a national hotspot for infections — are participating in a blood sampling study led by a California biotech firm that hopes to find an FDA-approved treatment for the disease.

Early research has shown promising results from taking plasma from recovered patients (which contains antibodies) and transferring it intravenously into those succumbing to the virus.   But San Francisco based biotech company GigaGen wants to create a lab-made alternative which won’t rely on a steady stream of donors.

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