CLEAR WATER, Wis. (WEAU) – More than 700 people in the Chippewa Valley have received monoclonal treatments with COVID-19 antibodies from the Mayo Clinic Health System.
Since the FDA approved an emergency use authorization for treatment in November 2020, the health system has been using it to treat patients at high risk for the virus.
Monoclonal antibody treatments are designed to keep people out of the hospital. According to the FDA, these are proteins made in a laboratory designed to mimic the immune system’s ability to fight harmful pathogens, such as viruses.
The Mayo Eau Claire Clinic, Dr. Lori Arndt’s assistant, said they were meant to kick-start the immune system.
“It blocks the attachment of the virus 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 the positive test, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic saw her file and recommended that she receive monoclonal antibodies.
“I was more relieved that because I had these things underlying, this was at my disposal and it would probably speed up my recovery and keep me away from the hospital or shorten my stay,” said Bob Wachsmuth.
Cancer survivor Joyce Wachsmuth, 67, also qualified for treatment. As a retired nurse, she did not think twice about taking experimental therapy.
“I had such severe pain in my body and joints that anything that would give me relief was much appreciated,” she said.
A few hours after receiving the one-hour infusion, Joyce Wachsmuth said the pain began to subside.
“It was very prompt that those monoclonal antibodies were doing their job,” she said.
But most importantly for Bob and Joyce Wachsmuth they feel better.
“I feel like COVID hit a lot, in fact, when I put everything in perspective, even though only three weeks passed,” said Joyce Wachsmuth.
“I feel good. Like I said, it doesn’t seem like that long,” said Bob Wachsmuth.
Arndt said the vast majority of patients who received monoclonal antibodies avoided hospitalization.
Although patients receive the infusion in the hospital, they can get home later that day.
Arndt said patients receiving monoclonal antibodies must wait 90 days before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Copyright 2021 WEAU. All rights reserved.