What you need to know about bamlanivimab
(neutralizing antibody treatment for COVID-19)
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with mild COVID-19, you may have a new treatment option: bamlanivimab (bam-la-NIV-i-mab). This drug will prevent you from having severe COVID-19.
The research so far shows that for certain people, taking this drug may help limit the amount of virus in the body. This may help their symptoms improve sooner – and they may be less likely get severe infection, which may need oxygenization or ventilation.
Particularly if you are over 65 years, you have diabetes, high BP, heart issues, this is the treatment for you.
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What is bamlanivimab?
Bamlanivimab is a neutralizing antibody drug. When there’s a virus in your body, like COVID-19, your immune system makes antibodies to fight it off. But it takes time for your body to make antibodies for a new virus — and in the meantime, you could get very sick.
Bamlanivimab contains man-made antibodies that are similar to the antibodies of patients who recovered from COVID-19. Scientists think that these antibodies may help limit the amount of virus in your body. This could give your body more time to learn how to make its own antibodies.
In a clinical trial, scientists found that bamlanivimab may limit the amount of virus in the body for people with COVID-19 who take the drug within 10 days of symptoms starting. They may also be less likely to need to go to the hospital.
Before you take bamlanivimab, tell your doctor if you:
• Have any allergies
• Have any diseases or health conditions
• Are pregnant or plan to get pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding
• Are taking any medicines, including prescription
drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or
herbal products
Who is this drug for?
Bamlanivimab is a treatment option for people with COVID-19 who:
• Have positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing
• Are age 18 or older
• Have had mild to moderate symptoms for 10 days or less
• Are at HIGH RISK to get very sick from COVID-19
This drug is not for people who are already in the hospital because of their COVID-19 symptoms.
Important facts about bamlanivimab:
Bamlanivimab is investigational, which means it’s still being studied. Bamlanivimab has been authorized for emergency use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19 Positive result, and who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 symptoms or the need for
Am I at HIGH RISK?
Bamlanivimab may be an option if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Are age 65 or older
• Have obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher
• Have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a condition that weakens the
immune system
• Take medication that weakens the immune system
• Are age 55 or older and have at least one of the following:
– Heart disease
– High blood pressure
– A long-term lung disease
If you’re not sure whether bamlanivimab could be an option for you, talk with your doctor.
How will I take this drug?
You only need to get the drug 1 time. It’s an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning that a nurse will put a small needle in your arm to give you the drug slowly over 1 hour. Your healthcare provider will determine the duration of your infusion. The treatment is usually given at a hospital. You will also need atleast 1 Hour observation after your infusion.
Getting any medicine through an IV can cause side
effects in the area where the needle went into the
skin. These may include:
• Pain that lasts a short time during the infusion
• Bleeding, bruising, swelling, or soreness
• Infection
What are the side effects?
Side effects can range from mild to serious and may include:
• Fever, chills, or sweating
• Nausea (upset stomach)
• Headache, muscle aches, or chest discomfort or pain
• Wheezing or shortness of breath (trouble breathing)
• Dizziness, low or high blood pressure, or fast or slow heartbeat
• Itching, rash, hives, or swollen lips, face, or throat
• Feeling weak, confused, or tired
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have any side effects, or if your symptoms get worse, during or after your infusion. Some of these side effects may be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Is bamlanivimab safe?
Scientists aren’t sure yet. They’re still studying bamlanivimab in clinical trials, and there’s a lot they don’t know about the benefits and risks.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has given a temporary Emergency Use Authorization for doctors to use bamlanivimab with certain patients.
This means that based on the results of the research so far, the FDA has found that the drug may have more benefits than risks in treating COVID-19 during the pandemic.
What other treatment options are there for COVID-19?
Bamlanivimab is among the first drugs given Emergency Use Authorization to treat people with COVID-19 who are newly diagnosed and have mild to moderate symptoms.
Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter medicines – like pain relievers to help with fever and body aches, or cough medicine so coughing doesn’t keep you awake at night. These medicines can help you feel better, but they won’t help your body fight the virus or make you less likely to need to go to the hospital.
And scientists around the world are working hard to develop new treatments to help people get better – and to end the pandemic sooner.
To learn more about Bamlanivimab or other possible COVID-19 treatments, please call us on +971558832357
References
1. Eli Lilly and Company: http://pi.lilly.com/eua/bamlanivimab-eua-factsheet-patient.pdf
2. Eli Lilly and Company: http://pi.lilly.com/eua/bamlanivimab-eua-factsheet-hcp.pdf
