Antibody Treatment Available at Door County Medical Center

A Door County Medical Center sign. File photo.

Press Release

 Investigational antibody treatment medications bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody; and casirivimab and imdevimab, a polyclonal antibody, are now available at Door County Medical Center for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The drugs have received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Receiving bamlanivimab or casirivimab and imdevimab may reduce complications and mitigate hospitalization or emergency room visits for certain people with COVID-19. 

The drugs are administered intravenously when someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 is experiencing mild to moderate symptoms (within 10 days of symptom onset), weighs 88 pounds (40 kg) or more, is over 12 years of age and is at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19  and developing a need for hospitalization. Patients only receive the treatment at their own discretion. 

These treatments are allocated to the states by the federal government, and then to hospitals throughout Wisconsin based on an algorithm the state uses to determine the number of doses each site is eligible to receive. Door County Medical Center has received allocations of both products based on that algorithm. 

There is a team of clinicians at DCMC that calls positive COVID-19 results to patients.  This team screens these patients for eligibility to receive the antibody treatments based on the criteria set forth in the Emergency Use Authorization, and when calling the results gives them the information about the antibody treatment.  If the patient chooses to receive treatment they are then scheduled.

Within days of receiving the first shipment of antibody therapy, an unused area of the hospital was repurposed into an antibody infusion center. It took a team effort to accomplish this in such a short period of time.

“Everyday our knowledge about COVID-19 grows and with that comes new preventative and treatment options. We are relieved to have access to this antibody treatment and hope that it mitigates risk of severe cases of COVID-19 for people in Door County,” said Dr. Jim Heise, Chief Medical Officer at Door County Medical Center. 

If you are concerned about exposure to or symptoms of COVID-19 should visit dcmedical.org/covid19 to fill out an online form. Upon submission, patients will be contacted by Door County Medical Center staff as soon as possible Monday-Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm to discuss their case and potentially schedule a COVID-19 test. 

For more information on these drugs and COVID-19 treatment options, ask your healthcare provider or visit www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov.