A COVID-19 plasma treatment study led by Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic will get funding from UnitedHealth Group to help accelerate the federally sponsored program.
The clinical initiative aims to coordinate blood plasma collection from recently recovered COVID-19 patients and use the plasma to treat hospital patients with severe COVID-19 infections.
Mayo Clinic is coordinating efforts across 1,600-plus sites nationwide. So far, more than 600 patients have received convalescent plasma treatment.
UnitedHealth's $5 million donation to the effort brings its COVID-19 donations up to $70 million to date.