(Image source from: timesofisrael.com)

Pluristem, which is Israel-based, treated its first American patient struggling with the Covid-19 symptoms and complications.

This was done after a report issued by the company showed how six critically ill coronavirus patients recovered completely. They were designated as high risk cases for mortality. These patients were treated with the company’s placenta-based cell-therapy product and were cured of the virus successfully. These reports have been released in the preliminary data released by the company.

In the United States, the patient was also treated with the same PLX cell therapy at Holy Name Medical Center located in New Jersey. Pluristem is already conducting a phase III critical limb ischemia study there.

Much like the six patients in Israel, even the U.S patient was suffering from respiratory complications because of the respiratory distress syndrome. They were intubated in the ICU for three consecutive weeks.

Yaky Yanay, CEO and President of Pluristem said that the company is focusing on creating a multinational clinical trial of this treatment for the treatment of Covid-19 and the complications that come along with it.

This Israel based treatment was conducted in the U.S under the US Food and Drug Administration’s Single Patient Expanded Access Program which part of the U.S Coronavirus Acceleration program. This has been made to make the coronavirus treatment more accessible and faster for the patients.

In Israel, the six infected patients received this treatment in three different medical facilities consistently for a week. The same was also deduced under the compassionate use program. Out of the six, four patients even showcases signs of other organ failures like the cardiovascular and the kidney failure.

Following a week of the treatment, not only did the six patients recovered, they also showcased improvements in the respiratory parameters and the other complications that they had. Two of them even showcased improvements to their respiratory issues.

Dr. Jason McCarthy, a senior managing director, Maxim Group stated saying, “Pluristem shows the COVID-19 world the first clinical data for stem cells. Pluristem is initially evaluating its cell therapy under compassionate use authorization in Israel and is also the first company to dose COVID-19 patients, as well as produce the first set of early stage data.”

Some of the prior animal studies have shown significant therapeutic impacts in the animal studies of the conditions of pulmonary hypertension, lung fibrosis, and even some other conditions.

“We are pleased with this initial outcome of the compassionate use program and committed to harnessing PLX cells for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems,” Yanay concluded saying.

By Somapika Dutta