Antibodies are proteins that your body makes to help fight off an illness. They can also provide immunity (protection from disease). Monoclonal antibodies are made in a lab and are similar to the antibodies your body makes.

Monoclonal antibody infusion therapy is used to treat a person who has COVID-19. The medicine used is called sotrovimab.

Sotrovimab is an “investigational” medicine. This means it is still being studied and not all of the risks are known at this time. Early research has shown that this medicine is safe and can reduce your risk of being admitted to the hospital.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sotrovimab for emergency use. This means it has met certain criteria (safety, performance and labeling) to be used when there are no other medicines available.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has determined that the Regeneron cocktail (casirivimab/imdevimab) and bamlanivimab/etesevimab therapies do not work against the Omicron variant. Most of the current COVID-19 cases are the Omicron variant.

The most effective therapy for the Omicron variant is sotrovimab.

This treatment is given by infusion therapy. You receive the medicine through an intravenous (IV) catheter (thin tube) inserted into a vein in your arm.

The medicine enters your body slowly. The infusion takes about 30 minutes. After your infusion, you will be watched closely for any side effects for one hour. You only need this treatment one time.

This treatment is only for people at increased risk of serious illness due to their age or health history. People with certain risk factors can have a more severe case of COVID-19.

To have this treatment, you need to:

• have tested positive for COVID-19
• have at least one risk factor for severe COVID-19
• have mild or moderate symptoms and do not need oxygen
• not be in the hospital
• have the infusion within 10 days of when your symptoms start
• be age 12 or older
• weigh at least 88 pounds

Sotrovimab is currently in short supply. At this time, only people at an increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19 will be able to receive this treatment.

Go to the Minnesota Resource Allocation Platform (MNRAP) to complete an online screening form. After you fill out the form, you will be notified if you meet the criteria for treatment. If so, you will be contacted to schedule the infusion if there is a dose available for you.

If you are a Wisconsin resident, please contact your Allina Health primary care provider. If you meet the criteria, they will add your information to the list. You will then be contacted to schedule the infusion if there is a dose available for you.

Before having monoclonal antibody infusion therapy, it is important to tell your health care provider if you:

• have a serious illness
• have any allergies
• are taking any medicines (including all prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal or natural products)
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

Monoclonal antibody infusion therapy will help:

• keep you feeling well
• lower your risk of getting worse from COVID-19 or being admitted to the hospital
• shorten the length of time your symptoms last

Monoclonal antibody infusion therapy could cause side effects, which can differ from person to person. They are still being studied and there could be other side effects that have not been reported.

Common side effects include:

• nausea (upset stomach)
• vomiting (throwing up)
• diarrhea
• headache
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• itching

At the infusion site, you may have pain, bleeding, bruising, soreness, swelling and possible infection.

Tell your health care provider right away if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

Some serious side effects such as an allergic reaction are possible, but not as common. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include fever, chills, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, wheezing, swelling of your lips, face, or throat, rash including hives, itching, muscle aches, and dizziness.

If you have an allergic reaction, call 911 or have someone drive you to the Emergency Department right away. Be sure to tell medical staff that you have tested positive for COVID-19. After you have received care, tell your health care provider about your side effects.

Your insurance provider will be billed for part of the treatment (giving you the medicine). Call your insurance provider to see how much you will need to pay. If you do not have insurance or have any questions, talk with your health care provider.