(Reuters) – The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) said on Tuesday it had stopped a convalescent blood plasma trial in treating patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms as it is unlikely to benefit this group.
The NIH said its decision was based on the findings of an independent data control board. (bit.ly/3rbOIdh)
The health agency’s decision comes less than two months after stopping an international convalescent plasma trial, as no benefit was found. Other studies in India and Argentina have also found no apparent benefit for people seriously ill with the disease.
The US trial had enrolled 511 of 900 participants, who were given blood plasma from patients recovered from COVID-19 or a placebo.
A recent analysis did not indicate any significant difference in the proportion of patients who needed emergency treatment, had to be hospitalized, or died within 15 days of admission to trial, NIH said.
Reports from Manas Mishra to Bengaluru; Edited by Shailesh Kuber