Malacañang on Friday backed the Medical City’s mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy program for pneumonia patients also infected with Covid-19.

MSCs have inflammatory response balancing capabilities. 

A study by Chinese scientists Shan Liu, Danyi Peng, Huijun Qiu, Ke Yang, Zhou Fu and Lin Zou said that MSCs “present an important opportunity to be applied to Covid-19.”

It found evidence showing that MSCs can be used as a treatment without adverse reactions. 

“In conclusion, it might be noteworthy to test the safety and efficacy of MSC transfusion in Covid-19 patients, especially for the severe or critical cases,” it said.

In a statement, Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the government would continue to support research for Covid-19 treatment.

“The Duterte administration fully supports research and / or practices that would ease the sufferings of patients from Covid-19. We fervently pray that the aforesaid program would continue to show promising results,” he said.

The country has recorded 74,390 Covid-19 cases as of July 23, of which 48,136 were active. John Ezekiel J. Hirro