Patients receive one dose of this treatment through outpatient IV infusion.
Treatments last close to 2½ hours. Dr. Razonable says it’s important for people to understand that the treatment is not metabolized in the kidneys or liver, and is not expected to interfere with other patient medications.
“Monoclonal antibodies are basically antibodies that will attach to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19). Once it attaches to that spike protein, the virus cannot attach itself to the cells, thereby limiting the spread of the infection and preventing it from progressing further,” explains Dr. Razonable.
“To be effective, this drug has to be given early, so that the protein of the virus can be bound to this antibody so that it prevents the infection from progressing,” says Dr. Razonable.
There does come a point when it’s too late to give the drug.
Dr. Razonable says the treatment no longer will be effective once patients require oxygen supplementation if they develop shortness of breath, or their oxygen saturation is low.
Testing to detect the infection and start treatment as early as possible in the course of the disease is important.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.