Lancaster Physician Summer 2021 - 16

L A N CA S TERMED I CALSO C IET Y. O R G
Best Practices
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
A Life Saving Treatment for COVID-19
C
BRIAN YOUNG, MD
Penn Medicine Lancaster
General Health Physicians
Family Medicine Twin Rose
OVID-19 can be a very serious
infection, especially for patients with
underlying health conditions or other
risk factors, such as being over 65 years of
age or overweight. Fortunately, there is a
highly effective treatment that can be given to
people early in their infection to dramatically
reduce the risk of hospitalization and even
death-monoclonal antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies are small proteins
that have been created in a lab. They bind
to and neutralize the virus that is already
circulating in someone's blood. This is similar
to how convalescent plasma works, but
it does not require giving someone another
person's blood. Monoclonal antibodies have
been used for years in treating multiple other
diseases and illnesses. They are used to fight
various forms of cancer and autoimmune
diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or
Crohn's disease, and are very effective and
safe treatments for other conditions.
In November of 2020, the FDA granted
emergency use authorization to several
LANCASTER 16 PHYSICIAN
different monoclonal antibody treatments for
the treatment of COVID-19. The emergency
use was initially limited to those over the age
of 65, severely obese (BMI >35), or with various
underlying health conditions including
diabetes, COPD or other lung conditions,
heart disease, active cancer, or an immune
suppressing condition or medication. The
authorization also included teenagers with a
body mass index over the 85th percentile, heart
or lung conditions from birth, and immune
suppressing conditions or medications. Most
recently, the FDA expanded the emergency use
authorization to include anyone with a body
mass index over 25. This is great news as it now
makes two-thirds of the adult population of
Lancaster County eligible for this treatment.
Monoclonal antibodies are given through an
IV over about one hour. There is a one-hour
observation period as well after the treatment.
The treatment is very safe and has a very small
risk of side effects. There is a one percent risk
of severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis, from
the treatment. For this reason, the medicine
must be given in a healthcare facility where
Lancaster Physician Summer 2021

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