The US Department of Defense (DOD) has contracted biotechnology company Immunome for the development of biosynthetic convalescent plasma (BCP) for Covid-19. The $13.3m funding will see the company use its technology to quickly assess the wider immune response of recovered Covid-19 patients. It will do this by generating up to 10,000 B cell hybridomas from each patient and “isolate the most potent antibodies against this viral threat”. Immunome will use a method that will help deliver a process to produce a BCP alternative to convalescent plasma that could include four to six “highly potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies”.
India’s Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) has developed a new bed isolation system for Covid-19 patients. Named Aashray, the low cost, reusable medical solution is designed to create “suction /negative pressure near exhale, and further filtering and disinfecting the aerosol”. This helps in maintaining the isolation of the infected person properly and reduce the virus spread. Each bed isolation system features a main duct equipped with UV light and filters circuit of Pre, fine, and HEPA filter and suction blower. Cleancore Solutions is the prototype manufacturer and a unit of ten beds can be purchased for around Rs1,00,000.
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West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) and Peruvian Air Force (FAP) have participated in a video teleconference to share information on military response efforts to the Covid-19 pandemic. The two parties proposed that their respective medical detachments to “connect directly to exchange lessons learned, best practices and personal protective equipment techniques and procedures, and updated aeromedical evacuation procedures for Covid-19-positive individuals”. They also agreed on the possible creation of “a virtual Officer Professional Development” for the FAP doctors and a joint operation for training and idea-sharing between them.
