Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has allowed clinical trials of blood plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients in the country.

Plasma, the fluid in blood teeming with antibodies post-illness, has already proven effective in small studies to treat infectious diseases including Ebola and SARS.

Special Assistant to PM on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, made the announcement today. Detailing the major steps of the federal government, Dr Mirza said the DRAP has also allowed clinical tests of the domestically produced ventilators.

More than 50 local companies have been permitted to produce hand sanitiizers due to the shortage of it [hand sanitizers] in the market. The permission to the companies has been given for three months only.

The companies holding licenses have been asked to produce hand sanitizers in the line of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.