- The therapy has been found effective in treating coronavirus patients with mild-to-moderate illness
- It can reduce hospitalisation rates and the need for making emergency room visits to a great extent
- However, the USFDA has warned against the administering of this therapy in patients with a serious illness requiring ventilation
THD NewsDesk, US: Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the investigational monoclonal antibody therapy bamlanivimab on the basis of Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA). The therapy is proved potent for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection.
The therapy has been authorised for the treatment of persons who have tested positive in the direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing. The individuals must be a minimum of 12 years of age and weigh at least 40 kilograms. The patients would only be administered this therapy if the COVID-19 infection is found to progress rapidly in their body and they are at a greater risk of hospitalisation. Primarily, the therapy is for those who are older than 65 and are suffering from chronic medical conditions.
Although the safety and effectiveness of this investigational therapy are still in question, bamlanivimab has been proven effective in reducing COVID-19-related hospitalisation rate. Further, patients who are treated with this therapy are at a lower risk of making frequent emergency room visits. However, if compared with placebo therapy, the patients have a greater chance of experiencing disease progression within 28 days of bamlanivimab treatment.
So far, the USFDA has not authorised Bamlanivimab for patients who have encountered serious illness owing to Covid-19 and require oxygen therapy. Moreover, the FDA has cautioned that monoclonal antibodies such as bamlanivimab, may deteriorate the health condition of hospitalised coronavirus patients, requiring mechanical ventilation.
Source: Express Healthcare