ICMR allows states to carry on with off-label plasma therapy for now

Pune: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday said states could continue using off-label plasma till issuance of any fresh norms.

The ICMR’s study on convalescent plasma, which is not associated with reduction in mortality or Covid progression, has been peer reviewed and published in a British journal. “Though the paper has been peer reviewed and published in a British journal, we have not issued any guidelines yet to states,” a senior ICMR scientist told TOI.

The scientist said till any further guidelines are issued on the subject, “states can continue using off-label plasma”.

Senior officials from the medical education department, however, said fresh guidelines on the effective use of plasma were on cards. “We have already issued detailed guidelines on the use of off-label plasma on compassionate grounds. On the Platina trial, we are yet to come out with anything yet,” a senior official from the department said, adding that once the Platina trials were complete, the guidelines would be issued.

Project Platina, the largest plasma therapy trials for Covid-19 patients, was launched by the chief minister in June. It aimed at creating a robust data for treating the disease. Plasma therapy or Convalescent Plasma Therapy (CPT) has proved to be useful in fighting other coronavirus diseases and its use against Covid-19 has shown encouraging results on patients across the country and the world.