The Washington Post reports:

When Mike Burton came down with a breakthrough case of covid-19 earlier this month, the infection posed a double threat to his family. At 73, the retired surgeon faced elevated risk of serious illness. His wife, Linda, has a suppressed immune system, the result of drugs she takes after two liver transplants that put her in greater danger of life-threatening illness.

The Burtons, both vaccinated, moved to separate parts of their Mount Sterling, Ky., home, masked up and hoped for the best.

Then a friend called and insisted they ask their doctors about monoclonal antibodies — an effective, widely available covid-19 therapy that few people are receiving.

The drugs often prevent severe disease, keeping people like Mike Burton out of the hospital if taken within seven to 10 days after symptoms begin. And since last month, they can be given prophylactically to millions of people like Linda Burton who have been exposed to the coronavirus and are at high risk of serious consequences.

“That was all news [to me], when my friend Rita called,” said Linda Burton, a retired nurse. “I want everybody to know about this. I’m telling people that I know that are older. I’m saying, ‘If you get exposed, you need to talk to your doctor about it.’ ”

Monoclonal antibodies are free to patients and there have been almost no side effects. They are accessible on an outpatient basis, via a single infusion or four injections. Hospitals, urgent-care centers and even private doctors are authorized to dispense them.

But Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, maker of the only authorized, free monoclonal antibodies, said it is reaching fewer than 30 percent of eligible patients, up from fewer than 5 percent a month ago.

The White House COVID-19 Response Team reported last week that just more than 600,000 people have received the treatment since Regeneron and Eli Lilly received approval for separate versions in November. (Distribution of Lilly’s product has been paused nationwide because it is ineffective against some variants.)

“We have a long way to go on how do we reach the general public where they are,” said Erin McCreary, director of stewardship innovation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which has treated 3,427 patients with the drugs since Dec. 9.

“It is absolutely the standard of care for covid-19,” she said. “It is my hope that clinics know that.” [Continue reading…]