New treatment available in the fight against COVID-19

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Southwest Medical Center is helping COVID-19 patients stay out of the hospital, thanks to a new therapy being offered in its Bentleyville office. 

Earlier this month, the medical center received approval from the state to offer monoclonal antibody infusion treatment. 

Monoclonal antibodies are man-made versions of the antibodies that humans naturally make to fight invaders such as COVID-19. 

The approved therapies attack the virus’ spike protein, making it harder for it to attach to and enter human cells.

The therapy is a new way to treat people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for developing severe illness. 

The goal of the therapy is to help prevent hospitalizations, reduce viral loads and lessen the severity of symptoms. 

According to information from the Harvard Medical School, the FDA granted emergency use authorization of two monoclonal antibody treatments for non-hospitalized adults and children over age 12 with mild to moderate symptoms who have tested positive for the virus.

The first treatment, bamlanivimab, is produced by Eli Lilly and is being offered at the medical center. The single-dose treatment must be given be given intravenously within 10 days of developing symptoms.

CEO Lori Spina said the new treatment will help patients fighting the virus.

“We started testing in November and we recently noticed we were getting a lot more positive tests and we were having a difficult time looking for somewhere to send them for infusion treatments,” she said. “We found out the monoclonal antibody treatments were released to health care systems, hospitals like Mon Valley and Jefferson, but not to physician offices, so we did a little work and connected with the Department of Health.

“We were granted the authority to offer the treatment within 48 hours.”

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