Latest Treatment Options for COVID-19 Show Great Promise

Latest Treatment Options for COVID-19 Show Great Promise

Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 has been a moving target, with preventive measures and treatment options changing from month to month. Now, more than a year later, three vaccines have become available as effective choices for those looking to prevent COVID-19.

Throughout that time, researchers have also been working to develop treatment options to lessen the severity of the virus for those who have contracted COVID-19 and reduce related hospitalizations and deaths.

One such treatment option that has shown great promise is the use of an intravenous (IV) infusion for COVID-19 patients using the two monoclonal antibodies bamlanivimab and etesevimab.

The FDA has authorized the emergency use of bamlanivimab and etesevimab together for the treatment of COVID-19 under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Patients receiving this treatment will receive a single IV infusion containing bamlanivimab and etesevimab, given to together at the same time. The infusion will take 21 – 60 minutes or longer.

Bamlanivimab and etesevimab are investigational medicines used to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents(12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds, and who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms or the need for hospitalization.

These two drugs are investigational because they are still being studied. There is limited information known about the safety oreffectiveness of using bamlanivimab and etesevimab to treat people withCOVID-19.

Bamlanivimab and etesevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are specifically directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, designed to block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells. Bamlanivimab and etesevimab bind to different but overlapping sites on the spike protein of the virus.

Eli Lilly’s Phase 3 clinical trial of 1,035 newly diagnosed, high-risk COVID-19 patients found an 87% risk reduction for hospitalizations and deaths for those who received a single intravenousinfusion of bamlanivimab and etesevimab together compared with placebo.

It is recommended that bamlanivimab and etesevimab be administered as soon as possible after positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2 and within 10 days of symptom onset. Bamlanivimab (700 mg) and etesevimab (1,400mg) are administered together as a single intravenous infusion.

Bamlanivimab and etesevimab must be administered together after dilution by intravenous (IV) infusion only and are not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19 or require oxygen therapy due toCOVID-19.

Every day, we’re learning more about Coronavirus, COVID-19and what we can do to lessen its effects. And while there’s a long way to go in terms of eliminating the virus completely, one thing’s for sure: With more and more Americans being vaccinated every day and these breakthroughs in treatment options mean there’s hope ahead for reaching the end of the pandemic.

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