UAB receives first shipment of newest monoclonal antibody

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - UAB Hospital leaders confirmed they have received the first shipment of sotrovimab, the newest monoclonal antibody which has been shown to be effective against the Omicron variant.

The first shipment was 16 doses, all of which have been used in patients with the greatest need. A second shipment is expected the week of January 10, 2022. The arrival date and number of doses is unknown.

Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, says patients, especially unvaccinated patients, should not count on monoclonal antibody therapy in the event they contract COVID-19. Marrazzo tells us with the limited supply the hospital is receiving from the federal government, people may end up waiting for it like they did during the last COVID surge.

“If we have a very big wave not only is it going to be challenging to have enough of it. It also requires a lot of people to give that monoclonal antibody in a clinic and when this happened last time with Delta, you may remember we had wait lists for people to get monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Marrazzo said.

Marrazzo says vaccination and boosting are the best protections against COVID-19.

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