Early research and clinical testing of new antibody cocktails have shown promising outcomes in slowing the progression and shortening the duration of COVID-19 for patients with mild to moderate symptoms, and preventing hospitalization.
But the early studies involve small numbers of patients and there is no long-term evidence about its safety and efficacy as clinical research is ongoing. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has come out against routine use of the therapies.
The availability of the new treatment comes as COVID-related hospitalizations in Pennsylvania have skyrocketed since Thanksgiving, exceeding numbers early in the pandemic.
Pennsylvania on Tuesday reported 6,151 adults were hospitalized statewide with COVID-19, including more than 1,200 in intensive care. Patients on ventilators jumped to 772 on Tuesday, 34 more than reported Monday.