Costa Rica Develops Curative Treatment Against Covid-19
Scientists from the Clodomiro Picado Research Institute of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) successfully produced a first test batch of the treatment that seeks to eliminate the coronavirus COVID-19 from the body.
The Clodomiro Picado Institute is responsible for producing anti-venom serums which help save the lives of 10,000 to 20,000 people worldwide. The research institute had been looking to find effective treatment against Covid-19 since March.
This first result is a necessary step before starting official production, which will reach clinics and hospitals.
This was announced by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) through a press release. In total, 53 ampoules were obtained from 25 liters of blood. With this, it is possible to verify that the planned production line will not have any problem.
Costa Rica develops an immunity treatment for Covid-19 patients
This immunity is thanks to the antibodies or immunoglobulins that neutralize said virus, through the antigen-antibody reaction. Antigens are receptors that are on the surface of the virus, these are detected and attacked by antibodies specialized in recognizing said antigen.
To carry out this process, the Clodomiro Picado Institute had to modify its production laboratory, with the aim of incorporating an alternative line for processing human plasma. Since it is a completely different line from the one used in the preparation of anti-opid serums.
“The results we obtained were very satisfactory. The characteristics are those required and therefore it is an injectable product in terms of chemical and microbiological quality,” said Guillermo León, coordinator of the UCR’s Industrial Division.
Costa Rica is prepared to receive plasma from convalescent people of Covid-19
By means of a press release, the UCR reported that due to the success of tests, it is fully prepared to receive the plasma from the convalescent people of Covid-19. In this way, it will be possible to produce the desired formulation of purified and concentrated immunoglobulins.
Naturally, when the body detects a virus like the one that causes Covid-19, it generates antibodies that fight against it. The treatment that seems to be close to occurring in Costa Rica consists of extracting these antibodies from the blood of a person who has already healed of Covid-19 to use them in sick people.
Covid-19 antibodies will be injected to Covid-19 infected Costa Ricans
Instead of waiting for a patient to start generating the antibodies, doctors integrate it into their body, so that they defend it. This process can be even more effective if the antibodies are purified before using them in the body of the sick patient.
In this test phase, the drug was produced with the blood of people who had not fallen ill with Covid-19, in order to test the new production system that the scientists had to develop, due to the emergency and due to the collaboration request that made the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
Currently the authorities of the Ministry of Health and other institutions such as the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC), are also working on the creation of protocols that allow the extraction, manipulation and transfer of plasma from at least patients already recovered for seriously ill patients, needing immediate intervention.
But for now, the UCR reported that the scientists achieved an “injectable product in terms of chemical and microbiological quality.” Now, they are waiting for the blood that the CCSS will gather of cured patients to process it and create the necessary treatment.
Costa Rica has been doing incredible innovative and technological medical advances, from developing their own respirators to treat Covid-19 patients to developing their own Covid-19 screening tests.
Costa Rica is being praised internationally for how they have faced the Covid-19 pandemic.