COVID-19 Treatment to be Offered Broadly at Essentia Health

Essentia Health is offering treatment for people diagnosed with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for severe complications and hospitalization. The drug is called bamlanivimab.

It is a monoclonal antibody recently authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It must be given within 10 days of the start of symptoms and as soon as possible after a positive COVID-19 test. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins that help the body protect itself against viruses. Bamlanivimab is made specifically to act against the COVID-19 virus.

According to a release, patients must meet certain criteria set by the FDA to qualify for the treatment. There is a limited supply of bamlanivimab so it is being allocated by federal and state agencies.

There will be more than 200 appointments available each week across Essentia Health. The therapy is offered at multiple locations across the state, including:

• Duluth: Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center, 407 E. Third St.
• Fargo: Essentia Health-32nd Avenue Clinic, 3000 32nd Ave. S.
• Brainerd: Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center, 523 N. Third St.
• Ada: Essentia Health-Ada, 201 Ninth St. W.
• Deer River: Essentia Health-Deer River, 115 10th Ave. N.E.
• Detroit Lakes: Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Hospital, 1027 Washington Ave.
• Fosston: Essentia Health-Fosston, 900 Hilligoss Blvd. S.E.
• Graceville: Essentia Health-Holy Trinity Hospital, 115 W. Second St.
• Virginia: Essentia Health Urgent Care, 901 Ninth St. N.

Due to the limited supply of the drug, eligible patients are randomly chosen by a computer for treatment. Those patients are contacted by a registered nurse from Essentia Health and then scheduled for an exam and an intravenous infusion. Bamlanivimab treatment has been authorized by the FDA for patients age 12 or older who are at high risk for severe complications and/or hospitalization. Children must weigh at least 40 kilograms or 88 pounds.

Like the COVID-19 vaccines, bamlanivimab is investigational. That means it is not yet approved by the FDA for any conditions and is still being tested in research studies. It has, however, been authorized by the FDA for use during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency determined it is reasonable to believe bamlanivimab may be effective in certain patients. In one trial study, it was found to lower the possibility patients needing an emergency room or hospital visit.

The FDA defined high risk as patients who meet at least one of these criteria:

• Body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more
• Chronic kidney disease (consider hemodialysis patients)
• Diabetes
• Immunosuppressive disease
• Currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment (e.g. rheumatology patients, patients with IBD on Humira or other immunosuppressive therapy)
• Age 65 or older
• Age 55 or older and have:
• ◦ cardiovascular disease OR
• ◦ hypertension OR
• ◦ chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/other chronic respiratory diseases
• Ages 12-17 and have:
• ◦ BMI in 85^th percentile or higher for age and gender based on CDC growth chart OR
• ◦ Sickle cell disease OR
• ◦ Congenital or acquired heart disease OR
• ◦ Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. cerebral palsy) OR
• ◦ Medical-related technological dependence not related to COVID-19 (e.g. tracheostomy, gastrostomy or positive-pressure ventilation) OR
• ◦ Asthma, reactive airway or other chronic respiratory disease that requires daily medication for control