Antibody Therapy Now Offered for Covid-19 Patients

Western Arizona Regional Medical Center is now performing monoclonal antibody therapy for the treatment of some cases of COVID-19. Both Regeneron, the infusion given to President Trump, and Bamlanivimab are being used for COVID- 19 treatment at WARMC.

“WARMC is providing updated treatment for COVID-19, which is usually available at university hospitals,” said Dr. Waheed Zehri, chief of staff.

“This infusion therapy is for at-risk patients, to help keep them out of the hospital,” said Suzanne McClelland, WARMC director of pharmacy.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is for Covid-positive individuals with symptoms, who are in a high risk category, but who aren’t sick enough to require hospitalization, McClelland said.

“The goal is to prevent mild symptoms from progressing.”

There are specific criteria to determine who is eligible for infusions. Patients must be at high risk to get very sick from COVID-19. This drug is not for people who are already in the hospital because of their COVID-19 symptoms.

There are additional criteria, based on a patient’s age and underlying medical conditions. For pediatric patients, over the age of 12, criteria would include:

• Obesity, with a body mass index greater than 85th percentile for their age and gender based, on CDC growth charts
• Heart disease, sickle cell disease, or a long-term lung disease
• A developmental condition, such as cerebral palsy
• Regular use of medical technology, such as a ventilator or feeding tube

Criteria for adults may include:

• Age 65 or older
• Obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher
• Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a condition that weakens the immune system
• Taking medication that weakens the immune system
• Age 55 or older with heart disease, high blood pressure, or a long-term lung disease

This antibody infusion is administered as outpatient therapy at the hospital, but in order to determine qualification, it must be prescribed and scheduled by a patient’s primary care practitioner, or on occasion it will be prescribed and scheduled by emergency room physicians. The infusion, a one-time treatment, takes about four hours from start to finish.

Patients must test positive and then their physician or practitioner will coordinate with the hospital.

“I’m proud of our hospital’s administration and its physicians, nurses and pharmacy staff for taking such proactive steps to care for our community’s COVID patients,” Zehri said.

“Please remember it is still critical that people take precautions to protect themselves and others - wear a mask when in public, maintain six feet or more distance from others, wash your hands frequently,” Zehri said.

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