Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for Early COVID-19 Arrives in Seminole

Patients that have recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 have a new treatment option. AllianceHealth Seminole has started treating COVID-19 patients with the monoclonal antibody treatments, Regeneron and Bamlanivimab or “BAM”. These drugs received emergency use authorization from the FDA for high-risk adult and pediatric COVID-19 positive patients with mild to moderate symptoms. It is not approved for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, patients requiring oxygen therapy or an increase from baseline home oxygen use. The laboratory-made antibody treatments mimics a naturally occurring one, which is known to fight off the virus that causes COVID-19.

AllianceHealth Seminole set up a specific infusion center to administer the medications and has already started to treat patients. Monoclonal antibody treatments are most effective when given early after onset of symptoms or within 10 days of symptom onset or a positive test.

"We are excited that promising treatments are now available for high-risk patients early in a COVID-19 diagnosis,” stated Breane Griffith, AllianceHealth Seminole Chief Nursing Officer. “However, these treatments alone will not offset rising demand for hospitalizations that we are experiencing. Our community must make every effort to slow the spread by following CDC quarantine guidelines, limiting gatherings, wearing masks, washing hands, and maintaining social distance.”

Qualifying patients must weigh at least 88 pounds and have one of the following risk factors including body-mass index (BMI) greater than 35, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment among others. Patients 55 and older with heart disease, lung disease or who are undergoing immunosuppressive treatment also qualify.

This treatment must be ordered by a physician, so if you are COVID-19 positive and want to know if these treatments are available to you, contact your primary care physician for a referral.

Back