Valley hospitals await new COVID-19 treatments

Hospitals across the Valley and the rest of Arizona are halting the administration of monoclonal antibodies until they can get their hands on a supply of a more effective treatment after a federal pause on the practice.

Monoclonal antibodies is a treatment given to COVID-19 patients in the beginning stages of the disease to cut down the risk of severe side effects and hospitalization. Only one of three, called Sotrovimab, is proven to be effective against the new, highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus.

Sotrovimab has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID cases in patients 12 and older, and who are at high risk.