EAU CLAIRE, Delete. (WEAU) – More than 700 people in the Chippewa Valley have received COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatments from Mayo Clinic Health System.
Since the FDA approved an emergency use permit for the treatment in November 2020, the health system has been using it to treat high-risk virus patients.
Monoclonal antibody treatments are designed to keep people out of the hospital. According to the FDA, they are proteins created in a laboratory to mimic the immune system’s ability to fight harmful pathogens such as viruses.
Mayo Clinic Eau Claire, physician assistant Lori Arndt, said they are meant to kick-start the immune system.
“It stops the virus from attaching to your cells and prevents you from developing severe COVID symptoms,” she said.
In mid-January, Bob and Joyce Wachsmuth tested positive for COVID-19. Bob Wachsmuth, 70, has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a type of lung disease. After his positive test, a Mayo Clinic doctor saw his record and recommended that he get monoclonal antibodies.
“I had more of a sense of relief that because I had these underlying things, this was available to me and would likely speed recovery and keep me out of the hospital or shorten the stay,” said Bob Wachsmuth.
A cancer patient, Joyce Wachsmuth, 67, was also eligible for treatment. As a retired nurse, she didn’t think twice about the experimental therapy.
“I had such severe pain in my body and joints that anything that would give me relief was much appreciated,” she said.
Hours after receiving the one-hour infusion, Joyce Wachsmuth said the pain began to subside.
“It was very prompt for those monoclonal antibodies to do their job,” she said.
But the most important thing for Bob and Joyce Wachsmuth is that they feel better.
“I feel like COVID is kind of a long time ago when I put it all in perspective, even if it was only three weeks ago,” said Joyce Wachsmuth.
“I feel fine. Like I said, it doesn’t feel like it’s that short,” said Bob Wachsmuth.
Arndt said a large majority of patients who received monoclonal antibodies avoided hospitalization.
Although patients receive the IV in the hospital, they can go home later that day.
Arndt said patients who receive monoclonal antibodies should wait 90 days before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
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