FDA approves New York to start COVID-19 drug trials for seriously ill patients
The FDA has approved the New York State Department of Health to proceed with an experimental drug. It takes plasma from a person who has been infected with the virus, processes the plasma and injects the antibodies into a person who is sick.
Right now, it would only be done on a "compassionate care" basis, meaning the drug could be used on very ill patients, though it's not approved for widespread use.
According to Gov. Cuomo, there have been tests that show when people have been injected with the antibodies, that boosts their immune system against the disease.
"It's only a trial. It's a trial for people in serious condition, but the NYS DOH has been working on this with some of New York's best healthcare agencies and we think it shows promise," said Cuomo. Rollout is expected to start this week.
On Tuesday, New York State is starting drug trials on chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which the FDA approved for compassionate care use last week. On Sunday, Cuomo said the state had acquired 750,000 doses of chloroquine and 70,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine. Cuomo and Pres. Donald Trump have said they're "optimistic" about about these drugs; both are unproven against the coronavirus.
The country's lead infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, said the evidence for chloroquine, so far, is anecdotal. "It was not done in a controlled clinical trial, so you really can't make any definitive statement about it," said Fauci.
These drugs have been used to treat malaria and lupus; many patients and doctors worry hype around these drugs will exacerbate existing shortages.
There's also work on a serological drug, said Cuomo, where the antibodies of a person are tested to see if they've already had the virus.
"We all believe thousands and thousands of people have had the virus and self-resolved. If you knew that, you would know who is now immune to the virus and who you could send back to work, etcetera," said Cuomo.
