Nearly 2000 COVID-19 patients benefit from stem cell therapy

Our Correspondent
Dubai

More than 2,000 patients suffering from COVID-19 have been successfully treated at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre (ADSCC), and 1,200 of them have fully recovered from the virus attack, Wam reported.

The number of treatments had gone up from 73 in the initial clinical trial as a result of ADSCC staff efforts to treat as many people as possible. The UAE government had instructed that it be made available free of charge to all moderate-to-high risk COVID-19 patients in the country.

The treatment, branded UAECell19, proved effective and reported no significant adverse changes or serious reactions (such as anaphylaxis, allergic reactions or sudden death) or any lung complications.

An ADSCC team led by Dr Yendry Ventura had developed the new treatment in May. UAECell19, an autologous stem cells based therapy, seems to help the body fight the virus and makes the disease less harmful. UAECell19 reduced the duration of hospitalization from 22 days to just six, compared to patients who had received standard treatment. Further analyses revealed that patients treated with the stem cells were 3.1 times more likely to recover in less than seven days than those treated with standard therapy.

ADSCC has secured intellectual property rights protection for UAECell19. ADSCC said researchers are at various stages of investigatory efforts to establish effectiveness (Phase 3 trial), optimal efficacy of dosage, and efficacy to treat other respiratory diseases such asthma and cystic fibrosis.