No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica's equine plasma coronavirus treatment not as effective as initially hoped

Costa Rica’s equine plasma coronavirus treatment not as effective as initially hoped

Treating coronavirus patients with an antibody-rich serum made from horse plasma hasn’t produced the desired results, Costa Rican authorities said.

Román Macaya, executive president of the Costa Rica Social Security System (CCSS), said at a Wednesday press conference that the clinical studies of the serum showed minimal impacts on patients with COVID-19.

“Equine serum was implemented to see its safety and efficacy to neutralize the effects of the virus. It was found to be well-tolerated by patients, but the efficacy is not as desired,” Macaya said, according to La Nación.

“It was not slowing the progression of the disease or the development of complications.”

Macaya, who didn’t provide further details on the findings, said health authorities will continue clinical studies using different dosages.

When the equine serum treatment was first announced, Macaya hoped it would reduce the average length of the average COVID-19 hospitalization, helping to free Costa Rica’s limited hospital capacity.

The Clodomiro Picado Institute at the University of Costa Rica — which specializes in snake antivenoms — created the serums from the blood of horses that were injected with non-infectious SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

The serum was shown to inhibit the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, during in vitro tests performed at the National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases in the United States. In vitro refers to a study performed outside of a living organism. 

The treatment was not meant as a replacement for an eventual vaccine.

The Clodomiro Picado Institute began exploring equine plasma to treat COVID-19 in April.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s UN Ocean Conference Role Slammed as Hypocritical

Costa Rica’s high-profile role in the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, has triggered fierce criticism from lawmakers and environmentalists, who...

The Hidden Costs of Living in Costa Rica: Tariffs, Monopolies, and More

‘Tariffs’ is one of the buzzwords of 2025. Defined as taxes imposed by one country on goods imported from another country, tariffs are essentially...

Costa Rica Expat’s Bus Journey to the Border: A Ride Like No Other

I can’t say what compelled me to buy a ticket to the border on a collectivo bus. I got to the station too early....

Costa Rica’s Investment Appeal Fades Amid Social and Environmental Challenges

Costa Rica’s reputation as a prime destination for foreign investment is under threat, according to a new study from the University of Costa Rica...

Nicaragua Pulls Out of UN Refugee Agency, Citing Bias

Nicaragua announced that it is withdrawing from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), accusing the agency of making “biased” statements about Nicaraguans...

UN Ocean Conference Opens with Push for Deep-Sea Mining Moratorium

The UN Ocean Conference began Monday in France with a call from Secretary-General António Guterres to prevent the ocean floor from becoming the “Wild...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica