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Sandworm Blood Could Help Coronavirus Victims

VOA News

   Two French hospitals are poised to start experimental treatment with
   sandworm blood of patients suffering of respiratory problems caused by
   the new coronavirus.

   Doctors atPitie-SalpetriereHospital and Georges Pompidou Hospital in
   Parisare going to test in coming dayswhether it is safe to injectthe
   sandworm blood,directly in human blood,hoping toincrease oxygen levels
   in the tissue ofinfectedpatients.

   The French government drug agency ANSMapprovedthephaseoneclinical
   trialonMarch 27and thegovernment ethics committeecleared it onApril 4.

   Biology researcher FranckZal,the CEO of biotechnology
   companyHemarina,observed years ago that sandworms, also known
   aslugworms,couldsurvivedon land and in water.

   "I observed that the worm only breathes when it is in the sea, and when
   it is in the sand it stops breathing for 6 hours. So,I discoveredthat
   this molecule is its little oxygen tank that allows it to hold six
   hours until the next high tide,"Zalsaid.

   The treatmentZalsubsequently inventedhas been applied tokidney
   transplant patients and improvedthe oxygen levels of the organs.

   Hemarinanowhas a worm farm on the Atlantic island ofNoirmoutier.

   Thetest will start with 10 coronavirus patientswho are near deathand
   will not include acontrol group. If the clinical trial goes to the next
   phase, it will include a control group.

   The treatment willbe administered one patient at a time and will be
   givenonlyto thosewhose families have given consent.

   French doctors admit that thetreatment is unusual andin theearly stage
   of testing, butdue tourgent need to findsolutions for the new COVID-19,
   they believeitisworth trying.

   France had reported more than 8,000 deaths related tothe coronavirus as
   of Sunday.'¯

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