Posted on 09/16/2021 9:23:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Monoclonal antibody treatment can reduce the severity of COVID-19 if infused quickly after a positive test. That’s been in the books for months, even though it doesn’t draw much attention.
Now anyone considered high risk, who is exposed to COVID-19, qualifies for the treatment, adding the preventative capability into the mix.
“We know from previous data that we can reduce the need for hospitalization and the risk of dying by 70% if we can get the medication in on time,’’ said Dr. Bruce Muma, CEO of the Henry Ford Physician Network who heads up Henry Ford’s monoclonal antibody program. “
“For every 10 infusions, we prevent a hospitalization. For every 50 infusions, we save a life,’’ Muma said.
At Henry Ford Health System more than 2,600 monoclonal antibody infusions have been administered without a single bad reaction.
“We are not actually participating in a study to prove it works, that’s already happened. The FDA decided to expand the indications based on that data. It does work, it works for people who are treated and it also has some effectiveness to prevent it from happening in people that are at super high-risk,’’ Muma said.
High risk includes over age 65 and anyone with chronic conditions like kidney disease, lung disease or heart disease. The FDA also included anyone with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 25. “More than half the population of the country has a BMI over 25. That’s the high-risk group. That expanded it, making it very permissive,’’ Muma said.
The CDC has reported that 78% of those with COVID who were hospitalized were obese or overweight.
“For the post-exposure prophylactics, they basically added the criteria that they had not been vaccinated or they’re immunocompromised such as they didn’t respond, they likely didn’t have a good response to the vaccine. They might be on cancer chemotherapy or other treatments impairing their immune system. Or they have a disease that impairs their immune system and they may not have responded fully to the vaccine even if they got the full vaccine,’’ Muma added.
Monoclonal antibody is a form of treatment discovered in the mid-1970s and brought to market in the mid-1990s for several diseases including autoimmune diseases, cancer and infections.
Basically monoclonal antibodies are human antibodies created in a lab using various
animal cell culture techniques. These antibodies bind to a target protein in the body and stimulate the immune system to eliminate it. In the case of a viral target, like COVID19, it binds to the spike protein on the surface of the virus.
It is usually given intravenously, although that is changing.
“Up until the latest (Emergency Use Authorization) was released about three weeks ago it was only given by IV infusion. … In other conditions with other monoclonal antibody formulations we’ve been able to inject it. With this latest EUA the FDA is allowing us to do injections as well as infusion. For some patients who it’s really hard to get an IV on or they don’t want an IV we can give it by injection,’’ Muma said.
He said they prefer the infusion for people who have the infection because it spreads through the body quicker. For the people who are getting the preventative treatment the injection is fine.
Despite the positive data about monoclonal antibodies, it’s still almost a secret.
Muma said there are many reasons.
“One factor is that hospitals are so swamped with managing patients in the hospital and managing all the other related issues like getting people vaccinated. I don’t know if we’ve had the resources that we need — we being health care in general across Southeast Michigan — to invest in the infusion process,’’ Muma said.
“We have massive shortages of nurses right now so infusion centers — we’ve struggled to get enough staffing to open up enough beds to provide it. I know every other health system has struggled with it too,’’ he added.
He said there are lots of places to get the monoclonal antibody treatment but it’s hard for any one person to know where the closest and best place is. Some urgent care centers and doctors offices give the infusions. He suggests calling your doctor or checking the website CurshCovid.com to find a location.
“We’ve actually worked with the health departments as well as with some of the other health systems to help them develop the capacity and maybe the processes they need to effectively distribute it,’’ Muma said.
The medication itself is paid for by the federal government. Most insurance companies cover the administration charges. Henry Ford works with the Department of Health and Human Services so if somebody does not have insurance coverage, it is free of charge.
“We think the best way to deliver this going forward is in the home. We have a paramedic program called Mobile Integrated Health. We have employed paramedics at Henry Ford, they are licensed and supervised to provide the treatment in the home,’’ Muma said. “They can travel to the home, bring the medication, and put the IV in. The patient has to be watched for an hour.
While there is no cure for COVID-19, monoclonal antibodies have been proven to help lessen the symptoms.
“We want to get the word out that if you’re not vaccinated we still want to save you, please come in and get your infusion,’’ Muma said.
If it can save lives, what do we call it when politicians are trying to deny people access to it?
Biden is going to withhold this treatment for red states. Being sure to punish us. “Joe Biden’s Health and Human Services made the announcement earlier this month (LINK) that they were taking full control over Monoclonal Antibody drugs (mAb) in order to begin rationing the highly effective treatment for COVID-19 infection, several people sounded alarm bells as there was the potential for rationing of COVID treatment based on political ideology. Representative Chip Roy of Texas was one of the first to raise concerns “(link). https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2021/09/15/covid-politics-takes-a-dark-turn-biden-administration-takes-control-of-monoclonal-antibody-drugs-in-order-to-block-treatments-in-red-states-and-ration-equitable-treatment/
Great info. Thanks.
“He got the antibody treatment and within 24 hours was almost completely symptom-free.”
What did the antibody treatment consist of?
Please have his family get NAC to help:
https://www.dovepress.com/getfile.php?fileID=63267
The dosages are in the graphic at the end of the study.
“That’s why they’re cutting it off to red states.”
Yep Biden is EVIL. Another reason NOT to get the vax.
June2 wrote:
“I know someone who was only exposed to Covid but is over 65. They gave this person the Monoclonal antibodies as a preventative. The nurse doing the shots said it could last up to 10 months. They are giving 4 shots instead of infusion in some places in Florida. Just as effective. I know 5 people that gotten the monoclonal. All the folks that were sick, recovered quickly and 2 were prophylactic…..they never got Covid.
4 shots in different location areas of the body. 1 in each arm, leg or in the stomach.”
Was the person you know in Florida?
RE: Only problem is that it costs thousands of dollars per patient.
It’s FREE. Government pays for it, like they do the vaccines.
From the article:
“...For the people who are getting the preventative treatment the injection is fine. ...”
^^^^^
THIS
Preventative, as well as early therapeutic.
Cute, but no. Each dose of the vaccine costs $20 to manufacture.
The nicest part is older people can rejoin the world... and yeah, I'm with you - Thank YOU Governor DeSantis.
Right course of action. Mark 12:31. Update us when you can.
Check out the Doctor Brian Tyson interview...
Wanted to post this to terart but did not think it would fit -- if you are lingering in the 92-93 O2 range, there are gentle ways to raise your 02 level 2 or 3 points, and don't give up just because you are under that 95 cutoff. Call your GP or NP and ask. Monoclonal antibodies WORK.
I don't know. My wife does most of the communications with them.
With people, especially family even more so than friends, getting accurate, detailed info on medical issues is problematical at best.
I have observed that many (most?) people do not really dialog with their doctor or ask questions. They also don't read up on what is being given to them. My BIL and his wife never question their doctor about anything. They take everything they hear in his office as the gospel.
Back to your initial question, I assumed the treatment was a standardized protocol with perhaps the only variations being dosage based on weight and or sex. They live in Florida BTW.
At my annual physical yesterday I asked my doctor what therapeutics he was prescribing for covid. He said most people have light symptoms and need no meds. They recover in a few days. For people with underlying conditions he’s doing IV of monoclonal antibodies and an oral steroid. He thinks HCQ and Over me tin are worthless. I didn’t bother to argue with him.
I actually own some stock in REGN.
Thank you. I did not know that.
Use India mart: Indiamart.com
Private e-mail coming.
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