Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
Return to PR Newswire homepage
  • News
  • Products
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All Public Company News
      • All Multimedia News
      • View All News Releases

      • Regulatory News

      • D/A/CH Regulatory News
      • UK Regulatory News
      • View All Regulatory News

  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads & Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking & Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers & Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalisation
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls & Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil & Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defence
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking & Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers & Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines & Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics & Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture & Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewellery
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film & Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks & Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels & Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Animal Welfare
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Economic News, Trends & Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • Labour & Union
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Public Safety
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Disclosure Services
  • SocialBoost
  • Rooms
    • MediaRoom
    • ESG Rooms
  • AI Tools
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PR Newswire UK provides press release distribution, targeting, monitoring, and marketing services
  • Send a Release
    • Phone

    • +44 (0)20 7454 5110 from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us

      +44 (0)20 7454 5110
      from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT

  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • News in Focus
    • Browse News Releases
    • Regulatory News
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
    • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Overview
  • Distribution
  • Paid Placement
  • Multichannel Amplification
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®
  • AI Tools
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships
  • Client Login
  • Send a Release
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists

Clinical Trial Evaluating Effectiveness Of Convalescent Plasma Therapy For The Treatment Of The Ebola Virus Underway In Liberia


News provided by

Clinical Research Management, Inc.

15 Dec, 2014, 05:33 GMT

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

-- First Ebola Patient has Received Plasma from an Ebola Survivor in Liberia

-- Sustainable Infrastructure to Combat Ebola and Other Infectious Diseases Now Established

HINCKLEY, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical Research Management, Inc. (ClinicalRM) today announced that the clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of Ebola convalescent plasma (ECP) for the treatment of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Liberia has commenced. The first donor survivors at the ELWA Hospital 2 unit in Monrovia, Liberia have undergone plasmapheresis. The donated convalescent plasma was transferred to a Liberian patient with EVD in an effort to help them combat this disease. The ClinicalRM trial is being funded through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This clinical trial will involve EVD survivors at the ELWA Hospital, founded in 1965 by SIM, an international Christian organization, in Monrovia, Liberia.  It will assess the efficacy of ECP to improve survival in patients with EVD.  The primary objective of the trial will be to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ECP treatment. The donors who survived EVD have special factors in their blood that allow them to fight the disease.  It is believed that these factors, also known as anti-Ebola antibodies, can be transferred to someone with EVD to help them fight the disease.  

"We are pleased to have been able to begin the study and will now start to learn, within the context of a closely monitored clinical study, the therapeutic potential that ECP has on patients suffering from this life-threatening disease," said Dr. Jerry Brown, head of the ELWA 2 unit in Monrovia, Liberia and lead for the clinical trial. "Most critically, we will now have the human and technical infrastructure to combat Ebola and other diseases in the future." Dr. Brown was highlighted in TIME Magazine's Person of the Year 2014 "The Ebola Fighters" as one of the leaders fighting the epidemic. 

"At a time when there is no specific therapy for Ebola, this trial is truly unique in that it serves to empower survivors of EVD with the ability to fight back through the donation of plasma that could potentially save someone's life," said William A. Fischer II, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

"As part of the trial, we have been able to enhance a range of lab capabilities within the hospital system allowing for real time electrolyte analysis," said David Wohl, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "Monitoring and responding to electrolyte abnormalities is a huge benefit in the effort to care for and support people battling Ebola and it greatly enhances the healthcare team's ability to make informed and rapid treatment decisions." Drs. Fischer and Wohl, joined by faculty from Duke University, are situated in Liberia to assist in the clinical trial.

"A number of Liberian health care workers have been trained to conduct plasmapheresis and how to implement proper research techniques," said David Hoover, MD, Ebola Program Director, ClinicalRM. "This will empower local health care systems to become more self sufficient and better serve their patients during this current epidemic as well as in the future."

The survivors will have been tested to ensure that they are cured of EVD and are not infected with other diseases such as HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis. For added safety, the trial's use of pathogen inactivation technology will substantially reduce the risk of any transfusion-transmitted infection from blood components.

"Launching this trial in this timeframe required incredible commitment and passion from everyone involved. Dr. Brown's dedication inspired all of us to move forward even when things seemed insurmountable," said Vicki Tifft, CEO and founder of ClinicalRM. "This is truly a global effort and there are many partners involved."

In addition to Liberia, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation support has provided for the establishment of plasma donation centers at Hopital National Donka (Conakry, Guinea) and Yaba Mainland Hospital (Lagos, Nigeria). It includes the research, scientific and technical involvement and expertise of academic, foundation and private sector partners. The convalescent plasma will be collected through mobile donation units fully equipped with Haemonetics PCS®2  plasma collection systems and the Cerus INTERCEPT™ pathogen inactivation blood system. Partners that traveled to support the trial on the ground in Liberia include Safe Blood for Africa and Blood Centers of America. The donor, manufacturing, testing and transfusion information management system is being provided by Blood Bank Computer Systems, Inc. (BBCS).

About ClinicalRM
Founded in 1994, ClinicalRM is a full-service CRO with headquarters in Ohio and specializes in preclinical through Phase IV support of clinical trial services for biologics, drugs, and devices. Through international partnerships and a global selection of sites, they support their customers with a wide array of research, regulatory, and sponsor services that are tailored to accommodate clinical trials globally. Spanning the government, academic, and commercial marketplaces, ClinicalRM's multi-therapeutic team consists of leading experts in the fields of Infectious Disease, Vaccine Development, and Neurotherapeutics. ClinicalRM's goal is simple—to assist in improving the quality of life in communities throughout the world by advancing the goals of their customers.

The INTERCEPT Blood System is a trademark of Cerus Corporation.
PCS2 is a registered trademark of Haemonetics Corporation.

Media Contacts
Dan Boyle
mail@arc2.com 
+1 (818) 209-1692

Related Links

http://www.clinicalrm.com

Modal title

Contact PR Newswire

  • +44 (0)20 7454 5110
    from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • General Enquiries
  • Media Enquiries
  • Partnerships

Products

  • Content Distribution
  • Multimedia Services
  • Disclosure Services
  • Cision Communications Cloud®

About

  • About PR Newswire
  • About Cision
  • Partnering Opportunities
  • Careers
  • Accessibility Statement
  • APAC
  • APAC - Simplified Chinese
  • APAC - Traditional Chinese
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Middle East
  • Middle East - Arabic
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United States
  • Vietnam

My Services

  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
  • Data Privacy

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via Privacy@cision.com 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact PR Newswire

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Customer Portal
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Journalists
+44 (0)20 7454 5110
from 8 AM - 5:30 PM GMT
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Information Security Policy
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 PR Newswire Europe Limited. All Rights Reserved. A Cision company.