ICMR develops potential treatment for COVID-19

TIL Desk/Business/New Delhi/ The Indian Council of Medical Research in collaboration with a Hyderabad-based biopharmaceutical company has developed “highly purified antisera” prepared by injecting inactivated SARS-CoV2 in horses, which can be a potential treatment for COVID-19.

“The ICMR and Biological E Limited, Hyderabad, have developed highly purified antisera (raised in animals) for prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19,” the apex health research body said on Thursday. 

The ‘antisera’ is yet to undergo human clinical trials to establish its safety and efficacy and Drugs Controller General of India would be approached soon in this regard, Dr Samiran Panda, the head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said.               

Antisera are blood serum high in antibodies against specific antigens and are injected in humans to help kickstart the immune system to fight specific infections.  The pre-print version of the study regarding the development of the equine antisera has been posted on Research Square platform.