Illinois Department of Public Health adds new COVID-19 treatment

SPRINGFIELD – On February 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for a new monoclonal antibody, bebtelovimab, for the treatment of COVID-19. Bebtelovimab will now join another monoclonal antibody treatment, sotrovimab, two oral antivirals, Paxlovid and molnupiravir, and a preventive drug, Evusheld, in the list of COVID-19 treatments available across Illinois. Bebtelovimab is authorized to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and certain pediatric patients who are at high risk for severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, when other therapies are not available. Bebtelovimab is administered as an intravenous injection.
“This newest COVID-19 treatment authorized by the FDA will continue to move us forward as we co-exist with COVID-19,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike.
In an effort to better target where more COVID-19 treatments are needed in Illinois, IDPH began asking health facilities and pharmacies at the end of last year to report demographic information about who was receiving these treatments.
More information on COVID-19 treatments can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/covid19-treatment.html. To find a location that provides treatment, visit the COVID-19 Outpatient Therapy Locator on the IDPH website at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid-19-outpatient-therapy-locator.html.