The scientific community in the UAE is testing a new stem cell treatment for treating novel coronavirus patients. Researchers engaged in this project have secured Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

This scientific breakthrough will help in treating hundreds of patients.

The treatment breakthrough was achieved by Dr. Yendry Ventura and his team at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre (ADSCC) last month.

The treatment helps the infected body fight back the virus and help in recuperating the body with less harm.

The process extracts stem cells from the patient’s blood. The blood collected is reintroduced to the same body as a nebulizing mist after reactivation.

Initially, the treatment was administered to 73 COVID-19 patients in UAE, with moderate to severe symptoms. All those patients have responded well to the therapy. The team of researchers, however, insisted that despite initial success, further data should be gathered.

ADSCC yesterday announced that the results of the detailed analysis showed the treatment was safe and helpful. It can be used in addition to the usual line of treatment.  

According to Dr. Fatema Alkaabi, Co-Principal Investigator and Specialist Hematologist at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, those who received the stem cell treatment showed improvement within the first four days.

Patients with a severe infection also showed quicker recovery.

After ADSCC getting the IPR, copyrights, and knowhow of treatment, it can share the line of treatment to other hospitals in the country, after the government approves of it. 

During the study, researchers studied the nature of adverse effects, the mortality rate in 28 days, and time to clinical improvement or the patient’s discharge from the hospital. Before advising stem cell treatment, the patient’s immune response profile, acute-phase serum markers, among other things, were analyzed.

Those who had low hemoglobin count, blood infection, cancer patients were not part of the study. Patients below 18 years old were also not included in the treatment.

The ADSCC said researchers are at various stages of data analysis to prove the effectiveness of treatment. The researchers are also looking at the effectiveness of this treatment in treating patients with other comorbidities. 

WAM