Screen via SMH video conference: Dr. Manuel Gordillo

Hospitals in the region continue to face arising number of hospitalizations for COVID-19. But science and research locally also remains on the cutting edge of treatment and medical support.

The first trials in Florida for a dual-action antibody treatment for COVID-19 just took place at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.  Meanwhile, the Suncoast Science Center has turned its focus to producing more personal protective equipment while the SunCoast Blood Centers step up convalescent plasma collection.

On the treatment front, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is moving ahead with a trial at 150 hospitals nationwide, including three in Florida, for its REGN-COV2 treatment for those hospitalized after being infected with the coronavirus. Dr. Manuel Gordillo, SMH’s medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, spoke in a media call via Zoom about the trials, which began in Sarasota on Thursday.

Gordillo said this treatment relies on a specifically designed antibody to fight a spike protein attaching itself to cells. “The tests that they have done in vitro — in test tubes — are fabulous,” he said.”They completely obliterate the coronavirus at relatively low concentrations. This has been very impressive. It’s a feat of technology to the point the federal government has noticed that and have given the company a lot of support.”

Allison Warren, a spokesman for the hospital, notes SMH has previously been part of trials around Remdesivir and convalescent plasma treatments, some of the most successful medical ways found to date for addressing COVID-19.

On that front, SunCoast Blood Centers this week issued a call for plasma donation. Spokeswoman Meredith Dropkin said plasma has become the top preferred treatment in local hospitals for treating COVID-19 patients, and SunCoast Blood Centers is providing plasma at no cost to SMH, Manatee Memorial and eight other area hospitals.

The organization recently partnered with the Science Center, where a blood drive will be held July 29 from 11am to 4pm. The Faulhaber Fab Lab at the center has also worked to keep the region stocked with personal protective equipment. There, the COVID-19 Face & Shield Project has provided over 4,000 masks and shields to first responders and health care workers.

All the work becomes even more important as Florida becomes the latest national epicenter in growth in cases of COVID-19.

Sarasota County’s Department of Health last week tabulated the 100^th death of an individual with COVID-19. The total cases, dating back to Florida’s first diagnosis of a Manatee County patient at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, were at 3,106 in Sarasota County as of Sunday morning. In neighboring Manatee County, officials reported a total of 5,112 cases and 138 deaths.

Screen via SMH video conference: Dr. Manuel Gordillo