Fort Lauderdale, Florida -- To more effectively treat emerging variants of COVID-19, and in accordance with NIH guidelines, Broward Health has revised its monoclonal antibody therapy and starting Wednesday, April 7, will use a combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab, which has been approved by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). This new combination has shown promising results over the single agent bamlanivimab, which was previously used solely, at addressing COVID-19 infection due to some variants.
"Broward Health continues to explore the most effective treatments for our patients as the COVID-19 virus mutates," said Joshua Lenchus, D.O., chief medical officer, Broward Health Medical Center. "Monoclonal antibodies have proven effective in preventing COVID-positive patients from getting very sick and requiring hospitalization. But now, as we see the increase in COVID variants affecting our community, we must modify our therapies to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients."
Administered together as a diluted intravenous infusion, this new combination can be used for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing. Patients must be 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg and be at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. Monoclonal antibody therapy is available in the outpatient setting.
Patients who have recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 should call their primary care physicians to determine their eligibility for treatment. Those who don’t have a doctor can call Broward Health’s Nurse Connect at 954-320-5730.