FDA chief apologizes for overstating plasma effect on virus Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn is apologizing for overstating the life-saving benefits of using convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patientsWASHINGTON -- Responding to an outcry from medical experts, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn on Tuesday apologized for overstating the life-saving benefits of treating COVID-19 patients with convalescent plasma. Hahn had echoed Trump in saying that 35 more people out of 100 would survive the coronavirus if they were treated with the plasma. The 35% figure drew condemnation from other scientists and some former FDA officials, who called on Hahn to correct the record. Hahn and other Trump administration officials presented the difference as an absolute survival benefit, rather than a relative difference between two treatment groups. Some scientists worry the broadened FDA access to the treatment will make it harder to complete studies of whether the treatment actually works.

Source: ABC News August 25, 2020 13:53 UTC