Clinical trials for COVID-19 being conducted by Catholic Health Services

public service announcement |

Catholic Health Services is participating in two clinical trials aimed at developing treatments for COVID-19. CHS is participating in a Mayo Clinic trial that will use convalescent plasma donated by recovered COVID-19 patents to treat individuals who continue to fight the virus.

The second study involves using the medication remdesivir, which was developed to treat the Ebola virus and has been successfully used for other coronaviruses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

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Details on how to donate plasma and additional information on the two clinical trials may be obtained by calling CHS at 1(855) CHS-4500.

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The convalescent plasma study is being offered at CHS’s six hospitals. The remdesivir trial is taking place at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center in Roslyn and at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip.

Initial data available from studies using COVID-19 convalescent plasma to treat individuals with severe or life-threatening conditions related to the virus indicate that a single dose (200 milliliters/6.8 ounces) of plasma showed a benefit for some patients, leading to improvement. People who recover from COVID-19 do so, in part, because their blood contains antibodies that are able to fight the virus. Prior research of other viruses found that treating patients with plasma obtained from those who have recovered from the same virus leads to rapid improvement.

The use of remdesivir to treat COVID-19 follows limited testing in the United States, Canada, China and elsewhere that led to an improvement in the condition of some patients afflicted with the virus.

“Catholic Health Services is excited to be on the front lines and participate in these clinical trials for COVID-19,” said CHS Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer Jason Golbin, DO, MBA, MS. “Our clinical teams have spent several weeks caring for COVID-19 patients. It means a great deal to everyone to take part in these two cutting-edge research efforts.”   

Potential plasma donors must have a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19, but are now symptom-free and fully recovered. In addition to being in good health, donors must also be at least 18 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. The plasma can be administered only to a consenting COVID-19 patient or a patient whose family member offers consent. The treatment will be given to those patients judged by a physician to be at high risk of disease progression to severe or life-threatening.

The treatment regimen using remdesivir takes place over 10 days and includes a 200-milligram dose on the first day and a 100-milligram dose on days 2 to 10.