WHILE vaccines are the best tool for fighting the coronavirus, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., said Covid-19 therapeutics are now available to treat eligible patients who have mild to moderate symptoms.
CHCC said these therapeutics have been authorized under emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
According to CHCC, the following Covid-19 therapeutics reduce the risk of severe illness in patients with mild symptoms infected with the Delta variant:
• REGEN-COV – monoclonal antibody given intravenously (into the bloodstream) or subcutaneously (under skin).
• Bamlanivimab and etesevimab – monoclonal antibody given intravenously.
The following can reduce the risk of severe illness in patients with mild symptoms infected with the Delta or Omicron variant:
• Sotrovimab – monoclonal antibody given intravenously.
• Veklury (remdesivir) – antiviral given intravenously, daily for 3 days.
• Paxlovid – antiviral given orally.
• Molnupiravir – antiviral given orally.
Evusheld, a long-acting monoclonal antibody that is given intramuscularly (into the muscle), is an available pre-exposure prophylaxis, or a drug given to prevent disease or infection, for patients who are not yet infected, to reduce the risk of severe illness from the Delta or Omicron variant.
The following treatments are available in the hospital for Covid-19 infection, Delta or Omicron variants:
• Remdesivir – antiviral given intravenously, daily for 5 days.
• Tocilizumab – given intravenously.
• Baricitinib – alternative to tocilizumab.
• Sarilumab – alternative to tocilizumab.
Veklury, otherwise known as Remdesivir, is the first drug approved by the FDA to treat Covid-19, for use in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kilograms, or roughly 88 pounds, requiring hospitalization.
This approval does not include the entire population authorized to use Veklury under emergency use authorization, which is not the same as approval.
The FDA’s oversight of Veklury does not end with approval, and continued safety monitoring after approval is an important FDA duty for all the products that the agency regulates.
Evusheld is available as a treatment for individuals not yet infected, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, with SARS-CoV-2 for the prevention of Covid-19.
It can be given to adults and pediatric individuals 12 years of age and older, weighing at least 40 kilograms, or roughly 88 pounds.
Community members are encouraged to seek care or test early if they are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, as they may be eligible for monoclonal antibodies or other new treatments that are given soon after infection.
Some patients may have conditions or take chronic medications that may make a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable, or contraindications.
Always consult with your medical provider for the best advice for your situation.
For a complete list of the latest monoclonal antibody therapeutic products authorized under emergency use authorization by the FDA, visit https://www.fda.gov
For more information about CHCC programs, follow @cnmichcc on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; visit www.chcc.gov.mp; or call (670) 234-8950.
