MELBOURNE – This past week OMNI Healthcare administered monoclonal antibody treatments (mAb) to more than 100 patients after receiving its weekly allocation. In response to updated recommendations from the National Institute of Health (NIH) Covid-19 Treatment Panel, OMNI will only be administering sotrovimab and remdesivir to patients with mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19 who are at high risk for hospitalization. OMNI will no longer be providing (bamlanivimab/etesevimab and casirivimab/imdevimab) as treatment for non-hospitalized patients with symptomatic Covid-19.
While OMNI Healthcare will continue to administer sotrovimab, which is recommended by the NIH Covid-19 Treatment Panel, the healthcare group has exhausted its weekly allocation of sotrovimab. OMNI Healthcare Director of Operations Andrew Waterman says OMNI expects to receive additional sotrovimab next week. Due to the national shortage of sotrovimab, and new data regarding the severity of the Omicron variant, OMNI will be limiting eligibility to non-vaccinated patients who meet the CDC’s criteria.
“The demand to treat Covid positive patients outside a hospital is high and there are many people who meet the CDC’s criteria for receiving these treatments,” said OMNI Healthcare President and CEO Dr. Craig Deligdish. Dr. Deligdish has seen an overwhelming response from the public to OMNI’s new monoclonal antibody treatment clinics in recent days, “We’re happy to be able to provide some relief to patients who are suffering with this virus. In many cases, patients start to feel better the next day following treatment,” he added.
Yesterday, the FDA announced the approval the antiviral remdesivir (Veklury) which can administered to outpatients providing another therapeutic option during the Omicron surge. The drug has been approved for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. NIH’s COVID guidelines recommended a 3-day course of remdesivir as an option for the treatment of mild to severe Covid-19 based on data from the PINETREE study which demonstrated an 87% relative risk reduction in COVID-related hospitalizations with remdesivir
OMNI will resume its monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments at the following locations as soon as it receives additional sotrovimab and will begin administering remdesivir, on Wednesday pending receipt of its pending order.
1344 S. Apollo Blvd.
Suite 303
Melbourne
(321) 727-3495
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
845 Century Medical Dr.
Suite B
Titusville
(321) 529-6202
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Anyone interested in receiving the treatments at OMNI will require evidence of a positive Covid-19 test result. Individuals must have symptoms and meet CDC criteria for administration of the monoclonal treatment. Interested individuals will be screened by phone to ensure they meet the criteria before appointments are scheduled.
Monoclonal treatments are helpful for people who are at risk for serious Covid-19 infection and have tested positive for the virus. The mAb treatment can block the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) from entering the body’s cells and limit the amount of the virus within your body. This may result in milder symptoms and may decrease the likelihood of a hospital stay.
The mAb treatment may help people who:
Are at high risk of getting more serious symptoms and
Have a positive Covid-19 test with symptoms for 10 days or less.
