Remdesivir and Convalescent Plasma Therapy for Treatment of COVID-19 Infection in Nepal : A Registry Study

The pandemic COVID-19 does not have an established treatment. Clinical trials of antiviral drugs against SARS CoV-2 are currently in progress. Clinical study done by NIH which included 1059 patients indicated that those who received Remdesivir had a median recovery time of 11 days as compared with 15 days in those who received placebo. Remdesivir has recently received full approval for COVID-19 by US FDA, and emergency use authorization (EUA) by multiple countries including European Commission and Indian Health Service. Remdesivir appears to demonstrate the most benefit in those with severe COVID-19 on supplemental oxygen. The NIH Panel recommends using Remdesivir for 5 days or until hospital discharge, whichever comes first. The interim analysis of WHO's SOLIDARITY trial, however, failed to show mortality benefit with Remdesivir. Review of literature suggests the transfusion of convalescent plasma has been used successfully in observational and retrospective studies. A recent metanalysis showed that convalescent plasma reduced mortality by 57% compared to matched-patients receiving standard treatments. The objective of NHRC sponsored initial clinical study protocol (Convalescent Plasma study) was to provide a coordinated approach for collection and preparation, distribution and guidance for safe and effective administration of convalescent plasma with antibodies against SAR CoV-2 for treatment of patients with COVID-19 infection who are most likely to benefit from this investigational treatment. On August 9th, 2020, the Government of Nepal gave permission to use Remdesivir in COVID-19 patients of Nepal only as a study drug when the original protocol was amended to add a second study arm to use Remdesivir for treatment of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. The enrollment goal of these two protocols have been reached and collection of study data will be completed by the end of October 2020. On October 18th, the GoN MoHP also announced and directed to provide