Immunity in a vial: a Ukrainian company is developing a medicine for COVID-19

The medical company Biopharma, which operates in Ukraine, has joined the global initiative to find an effective medicine against COVID-19, says "Voice of America".

Photo: Shutterstock

A resident of Cherkassy Julia Kikot fell ill with COVID-19 and recovered. Now she has come to the Cherkasy Regional Blood Center to become a donor. Her blood plasma will help find a cure for coronavirus.

The center invites those who have been ill to donate plasma so that drug tests can be performed.

Yulia is the first plasma donor in Ukraine to survive coronavirus infection. To create the drug, pharmacists will need 300 liters of such plasma. It will be collected at blood centers across the country and then delivered to the Biopharma research and production complex. They are developing a cure for COVID-19.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

The pharmaceutical plant "Biopharma" is located in Bila Tserkva near Kiev. The Ukrainian response to coronavirus infection is being prepared here. The modern plant produces drugs from donor blood plasma. In particular, immunoglobulin, which increases the body’s resistance to viruses. Biopharma has been producing classic typical immunoglobulin for a long time. Now we set out to create a fundamentally new one - against COVID-19.

On the subject: Coronavirus vaccine: what success did different developers achieve

The effect of future drugs at Biopharma is described as follows. The blood of a person who has had COVID-19 and has successfully recovered produces antibodies against this infection. As Biopharma explains, the search for a cure for a new disease in the world continues in two parallel ways: some scientists are developing a vaccine, others are developing immunoglobulins. The difference is that a vaccine is a virus, albeit a weakened one. Healthy people are vaccinated for prophylactic purposes so that they develop antibodies and do not get sick when exposed to the virus. Immunoglobulin is ready-made antibodies, ready-made immunity; they can be prescribed to sick and even seriously ill people.

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

“Our drug will be applicable both for prevention and, first of all, for treatment,” says Andrey Rybakov, head of the clinical research department at Biopharma.

Therefore, the Ukrainian company focused on the development of immunoglobulin, and does this in a team joined by world pharmaceutical leaders.

“An alliance has been created, this is an unprecedented event in the field of blood plasma fractionation,” says Biopharma President Konstantin Efimenko. - This has never happened in history. The goal of the alliance is to collect plasma from donors who have overcome COVID-19 and conduct clinical studies involving patients from many countries around the world.

The Biopharma innovative plant is one of the investments of the American company Horizon Capital.

“We have been investing for more than 7 years,” says Elena Kosharnaya, founder and executive director of Horizon Capital. — They invested more than 100 million dollars, and now Ukraine has this national treasure for state interests. It is very important to have such factories on our territory.”

On the subject: Can COVID-19 be treated by plasma transfusion and how is it obtained

As they say at Biofarm, the most important task now is to find 500 people who have recovered from COVID-19 and agree to become plasma donors. The first batch of Ukrainian immunoglobulin against COVID-19 may appear as early as July. Next - clinical studies. If the immunoglobulin turns out to be effective, Biopharma promises protection against the new virus to every Ukrainian.

“Our plant’s capacity is large; it processes about 1 million liters of plasma,” says Efimenko. “We will definitely cover all the needs of Ukraine.”

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

Photo: video frame "Voices of America"

In the United States, the plasma method is also in the testing phase and has not yet been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

“Many antiviral drugs are now in various stages of testing,” says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “In addition, let’s look at the use of plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19. We want to give injections for preventive or therapeutic purposes. In addition, there is hyperimmune globulin, which can be used as a hemoglobulin injection.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

'We've learned the lessons': how New York doctors treat COVID-19 and improve medical protocols

Coronavirus antibody test: why do you need to do it

Coronavirus has suspended vaccination against other diseases: the world is threatened by malaria and polio

Coronavirus: when a medicine appears to treat COVID-19

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.