Convalescent plasma shows renewed promise for COVID-19 in outpatient trial

Among the possible treatments for people just developing COVID-19 symptoms, antibody-rich plasma donated by recovered patients has taken a backseat to options such as monoclonal antibodies and antiviral pills. But a new clinical trial suggests it may deserve a bigger role. The trial results, posted today as a preprint, showed a transfusion of convalescent plasma cut rates of hospitalization roughly in half—from 6.3% to 2.9%—in people treated early in the course of their infection with SARS-CoV-2.