Two years into the pandemic, coronavirus treatments like monoclonal antibodies and antiviral pills have been approved to treat COVID-19, but it’s hard to keep track of which ones still work, experts say.
For example, the monoclonal antibody cocktails are approved for emergency use in treating COVID-19, but some don’t work against the highly contagious Omicron variant.
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced proteins that bind to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and prevents it from attaching to human cells.
RELATED: FDA OKs Pfizer Pill as First At-Home COVID Treatment
You May Also Like
Which COVID treatment is effective against Omicron?
Treatment cocktails authorized in the United States for COVID-19 include bamlanivimab plus etesevimab (made by Eli Lilly); casirivimab plus imdevimab (made by Regeneron); and sotrovimab (made by GlaxoSmithKline).
However, bamlanivimab plus etesevimab and casirivimab plus imdevimab appear to be ineffective against Omicron and are no longer used, Mayo Clinic experts note.
To be treated with sotrovimab, high-risk COVID patients must: test positive for COVID-19; begin treatment within
