New antibody therapy being used for COVID-19 patients in Arizona

PHOENIX — Doctors in Arizona are using a new COVID-19 treatment that’s meant to help keep the most at-risk patients from being hospitalized.

It’s called monoclonal antibody therapy.

“Usually that is a treatment they want to use very early on — right after diagnosis,” Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

This new treatment is what former President Donald Trump was given when he was diagnosed with COVID-19. It is for patients who have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms and are considered high-risk for severe illness and hospitalization.

Arizona has been allocated 17,180 doses of Bamlanivimab and 3,550 doses of Regeneron. They are two kinds of monoclonal antibody therapies that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for emergency use in November.

The therapies monoclonal antibodies can be used for is patients 65 years and older or for those who have certain chronic medical conditions. Patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due to the virus cannot use the treatment.

“We’ve been partnering with hospitals, as well as out-patient treatment centers and other urgent cares in order to get them the monoclonal antibodies that they need to treat people,” Christ said.

She added her department is partnering with the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center to set up a system that allows out-patient providers to identify where they can direct patients for this treatment.

Banner Health is among the health systems in Arizona offering monoclonal antibody therapies.

“This is given as an out-patient treatment for those that qualify in several different sites,” Banner Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

She added it’s one of several COVID-19 treatments Banner Health has available.

Facilities from Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Mayo Clinic and Valleywise Health also offer monoclonal antibody therapies to COVID-19 patients in Arizona.

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