December 3, 2020
December 3, 2020
Fredericksburg, VA—Mary Washington Healthcare (MWHC) administered
the region’s first monoclonal antibody (mAbs) treatment to a COVID-19
patient this past weekend. MWHC is offering COVID-19 positive patients,
who meet specific criteria, Eli Lilly’s drug known as bamlanivimab
and Regeneron’s drug known as REGN-COV2, both drugs newly approved
by the FDA for emergency use.
Bamlanivimab and REGN-COV2 are monoclonal antibody (mAbs) treatments used
to prevent progression of COVID-19 disease. The mAbs is delivered through
a single intravenous infusion in the early stages of the disease for high
risk patients. In clinical trials, mAbs treatment demonstrated a statistically
significant decrease in hospitalizations in those at higher risk for COVID-19
complications.
“The availability of monoclonal antibody treatments is limited. However,
it is a promising drug that may help prevent some high-risk patients from
needing hospital-based treatment,” says Christopher Newman, MD,
Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer for MWHC. “With
the dramatic increases in positive patients in our region and resulting
hospitalizations, the timing of receiving this drug in our community is
critical.”
Because the drugs are in such short supply, there is an algorithm to identify
patients most likely to benefit from the treatment. Patients cannot request
this treatment. Those who qualify for the treatment will be identified
by their primary care provider, urgent care provider, or emergency medicine
provider who will refer them to MWHC for an outpatient appointment. The
mAbs treatments are provided through an outpatient infusion at either
Mary Washington Hospital or Stafford Hospital.
“It is going to be months before we see a significantly increased
supply of mAbs in our community,” says Dr. Newman. “In the
meantime, we are doing everything we can to prevent the transmission of
COVID-19. We need our community’s help to do their part in diminishing
the spread of the virus, too.”
Mary Washington Healthcare has seen a dramatic increase in hospitalized
COVID-19 patients throughout the month of November into December. As record
numbers of COVID-19 rise in our community and the flu season upon us,
MWHC officials continue to plead with our community to practice safety
precautions to protect our healthcare workers, our families, and our neighbors.
These safety precautions include: wear a mask over your nose and mouth
if you need to leave your home; always wear a mask when you are in the
company of anyone outside of your household; remain physically distant
(six feet or more) from anyone outside of your household; and wash your
hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently.