EL CENTRO, CA – October 1, 2020 – El Centro Regional Medical
Center (ECRMC) has announced it will be participating in an additional
clinical trial to battle COVID-19. The trial, which is run by Corvus Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., studies the use of a novel immunotherapy for hospitalized patients
with COVID-19.
Christian A. Tomaszewski, M.D. will be the lead investigator for ECRMC.
“We’ve seen a great deal of challenges in COVID-19 treatment,”
said Dr. Tomaszewski. “But the potential for new treatments is there
and ECRMC is pleased to be able to help study these treatments.”
The purpose of the trial is to study a novel humanized monoclonal antibody,
designated CPI-006, as an immunotherapy for mild to moderately ill COVID-19
patients that require hospitalization. CPI-006 activates B cells leading
to the production of antigen-specific immunoglobulin (IgM and IgG), as
well as increased levels of memory B Cells, which are responsible for
long-term immunity.
The overall goal of this trial is to determine CPI-006’s potential
to enhance antibody responses to COVID-19, improve clinical outcomes,
and prolong immunity. This trial has been enrolling COVID-19 patients
and so far, preliminary results indicate that CPI-006 boosts immunity
to the virus.
“The finding of increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients
with COVID-19 treated so far is encouraging and a good reason to study
this further,” said Dr. Tomaszewki. “We want to find a way
to boost antibodies to attack the virus and to encourage long-term immunity
and recovery.”
The study will enroll up to 25 inpatient participants. Potential participants
are at least 18 years old and have mild to moderate COVID-19 related illness
that requires hospitalization. If successful, this treatment will increase
the immune response to the COVID-19 infection and may lead to faster viral
clearance, shorter recovery time, less complications and longer lasting
immunity. In the future, it is also possible that it can assist healthy
people by improving the efficacy of vaccines.
About El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro Regional Medical Center is an acute-care medical center, serving
the health care needs of the Imperial Valley since 1956. In addition to
a 161-bed hospital facility, ECRMC also owns and operates a state-of-the-art
Medical Office Building housing the Oncology & Hematology Center,
Wound Healing Center, Outpatient Imaging services, as well as numerous
specialty clinics. Off-campus facilities include two outpatient clinics
in El Centro and Calexico and a Community Education Center located at
the Imperial Valley Mall. ECRMC provides comprehensive healthcare services
for residents seeking enhanced well-being and improved quality of life.