Medical facility Tampa General Hospital on Wednesday announced the first single dose infusion-based monoclonal antibody treatment in Florida in a COVID-19 positive patient against the mild or moderate symptoms before further deterioration hospitalization.

Eli Lilly's monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab is a first in class treatment that will allow physicians from Tampa General and USF Health to provide protection to COVID-19 positive patients with mild or moderate symptoms before they deteriorate further or require hospitalization. This single dose infusion-based treatment is provided on an outpatient basis and marks a dramatic shift in COVID-19 care.

Recently, the Eli Lilly monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms from COVID-19. TGH received some of the first supplies in the country and has the option to request additional doses on a weekly basis to serve the community.

The company added that the monoclonal antibody is a man-made protein that acts like a human antibody in the immune system. It works to block the spike protein in the virus before it can enter human cells and cause illness. The bamlanivimab is delivered through a single hour-long infusion treatment. The patients are monitored for another hour to ensure no side effects and then return home to continue recovery.