Within the context of the coronavirus epidemic, EFS contributes towards research efforts by participating in several studies aimed at a better understanding of the virus.
Studies on convalescent plasma: PlasmACoV2, COV-IA, CORIPLASM
PlasmACoV2
Project conducted by the research group led by Fabrice Cognasse (Saint-Etienne) and the emergent viruses unit (Marseilles) in association with the blood collection, preparation and screening laboratories within the regional establishments.
Project conducted in partnership with the AP-HP Hospitals Trust.
• The aim ? To sample and characterise plasma originating from COVID-19-convalescent donors.
• The principle ? This study will especially characterise the products by carrying out titration of the neutralising antibodies, anti SARS-CoV-2, and by evaluating the inflammatory potential of plasma. Based on the results of this study, some products have been selected to evaluate their efficacy against the disease in hospitalised patients suffering from COVID-19. The title of this trial, managed by the AP-HP, is CORIPLASM.
• Status of the project: ongoing.
Contact : Efs-DirectionInnovations@efs.sante.fr
CORIPLASM
Project sponsored by the AP-HP with the participation of EFS, the support of Inserm (REACTing) and FRM (Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale - Foundation for Medical Research in France).
• The aim ? To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment in patients suffering from the virus.
• The principle ? To evaluate the hypothesis of a transfer of immunity from patients who have recovered from coronavirus, who were in the PlasmACoV2 study, by transfusing their plasma into patients with the disease. The CORIPLASM study in fact shows that the plasma of convalescents contains antibodies directed against the virus that could aid patients in the acute phase of the disease in their fight against the virus.
• Status of the project : completed.
Contact : Efs-DirectionInnovations@efs.sante.fr
Within the framework of these studies, EFS is not looking for volunteers among the general public. The convalescent donors are put in direct contact with EFS by healthcare professionals or contacted directly by the establishment.
If the results of this clinical study prove conclusive, then an approach will be made by EFS to solicit potential donors from among convalescent individuals in France. At that point in time the steps to take will be indicated on our website and social media networks.
GENIUSVAC-COV
Project conducted by Laurence Chaperot (Inserm U 1209, CNRS 1253, EFS) in association with the EFS manufacturing platform for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products at Saint-Ismier.
Project funded by an inter-regional hospital clinical research program (Programme Hospitalier de Recherche clinique - PHRC).
• The aim ? To develop an immunotherapy vaccine based on plasmacytoid dendritic cells for the treatment of COVID-19.
• The principle ? Based on the GeniusVac clinical trial, an anticancer vaccine used in melanoma patients, to develop cytotoxic lymphocytes T CD8+ capable of killing infected cells, and thus help to control infection by the SARS-CoV2 virus.
• Status of the project : preclinical phase. This technology, patented by EFS, has already undergone proof of concept
Covi-TRaC
Project conducted by Marina Deschamps and Christophe Ferrand of EFS Bourgogne Franche-Comté (Inserm, UMR 1088 Right, UFC).
Project funded by EFS.
• The aim ? To arm our immune cells against COVID-19.
• The principle ? Based on the technology of CAR-T cells, the principle is to isolate T lymphocytes in order to reprogramme and arm them, thanks to molecular biology technologies, so that they can recognise the disease and then destroy the cells infected by SARS-Cov2.
• Status of the project : preclinical phase.
CovidEP
Project conducted by Olivier Hequet for EFS Auvergne Rhône Alpes and sponsored by the Hospices Civils de Lyon.
Project partly funded by EFS.
• The aim ? To evaluate the efficacy of a plasma exchange (PE) treatment in patients infected with COVID-19.
• The principle ? This treatment is based on the donation of healthy blood plasma to a patient suffering from a serious form of coronavirus disease. The respiratory problems appear, in part, to be linked to the strong presence of inflammatory substances in the blood, the idea is to remove these “abnormal substances” present in the blood and replace them with the serum from a healthy plasma donor in order to ease the immune system of the infected individual and prevent intubation.
• Status of the project : clinical phase.