Another advantageous tool we have to help mediate COVID infections and break through cases is Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful pathogens such as viruses. Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy may help decrease or prevent severe symptoms for COVID infection.

This is a valuable tool in the fight against COVID that is given outside a hospital setting. It can have lifesaving effects by minimizing illness and reducing likelihood of hospitalization . I want my patients and the community to be aware of it as we will continue to see more cases of COVID19 in our community.

This Therapy is approved for usage in high risk, COVID positive patients not yet requiring hospitalization. It is important that people know this resource is there.

Please see below for more details on Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy from TCMS (REGEN-COV). If you are high risk (see below for criteria) & have been exposed to or have symptoms, do not wait to contact your physician for a referral for Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy.

 

Treatment:

Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy (REGEN-COV) is authorized for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

 

The following medical conditions or other factors may place adults and pediatric patients (age 12-17 years and weighing at least 40 kg) at higher risk for progression to severe COVID-19:

  • Older age (for example, age ≥65 years of age)
  • Obesity or being overweight (for example, BMI >25 kg/m2, or if age 12-17, have BMI ≥85th percentile for their age and gender based on CDC growth charts, https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm)
  • Pregnancy
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment
  • Cardiovascular disease (including congenital heart disease) or hypertension
  • Chronic lung diseases (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma [moderate-to-severe], interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension)
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, cerebral palsy) or other conditions that confer medical complexity (for example, genetic or metabolic syndromes and severe congenital anomalies)
  • Having a medical-related technological dependence (for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation (not related to COVID-19)

Read the FDA’s fact sheet here.