Are COVID-19 Antibody Treatments Available?

With increased consumer demand for COVID-19 antibody (mAbs) treatments, many states have recently run out of supply for their citizens.

Since the U.S. government is the primary source of these innovative and effective mAbs treatments, many healthcare providers are turning away prospective patients.

For example, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, with BreathMD in Houston, Texas, notified her patients on December 19, 2021; they remained out of REGEN-COV anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody treatment and had ordered an alternative mAbs, Sotrovimab, from state authorities.

In response to this increase in consumer demand, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response transitioned to a State and Territory-coordinated Distribution System for mAbs on September 13, 2021.

But the overall supply comes from HHS.

During the week of December 17, 2021, HHS only distributed 55,002 mAbs nationwide.

According to HHS's records, the state of Texas only received 2,694 doses of Sotrovimab. This indicates an individual practice such as BreathMD may not receive any mAbs next week.

With a surge in fully-vaccinated people becoming Breaththrough Cases and the ominous approach of the Omicron virus variant, orders for COVID-19 related mAbs may skyrocket in 2022. 

But, there is good news on the horizon.

The U.S. FDA is aggressively authorizing new mAbs.

In addition to currently authorized Regeneron's REGEN-COV, Eli Lilly's Bamlanivimab and etesevimab, Vir Biotechnology/GSK's Sotrovimab, AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Antibody combination, Evusheld AZD7442 was authorized on December 8, 2021.

And, the FDA has expanded who is eligible to receive mAbs.

On December 3, 2021, the FDA authorized bamlanivimab and etesevimab to be administered together to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in all younger pediatric patients, including newborns, who have a positive COVID-19 test and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. 

This revision also authorizes bamlanivimab and etesevimab to be administered together for post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent COVID-19 in all pediatric patients, including newborns, at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. 

There is no cost to anyone for the antibodies themselves, but treatment fees may apply when delivered by commercial providers, says HHS.

Moreover, people who have had COVID-19 symptoms for ten days or less should be referred for treatment by their healthcare providers and directed to available infusion locations. And if you have COVID-19 symptoms but no healthcare provider, call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585.

To digitally locate facilities administering monoclonal antibodies, use the National Infusion Center Locator. And the national map displays locations that have received monoclonal antibody therapeutics within several weeks. 

For example, monoclonal antibodies treatment centers are located in Texas and Florida.

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-checked research-based antibody treatment news.

Update: The U.S. NIH issued an interim statement on December 23, 2021, to provide guidance on which individuals might receive the most significant benefit from anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19.