The Trump administration will begin distributing an experimental antibody drug to fight Covid-19 on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported Monday.
The initial emergency distribution will be small: only 30,000 doses.
The drug, made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, is the same one Donald Trump got last month while recuperating from Covid infection.
This follows a weekend announcement from the FDA that it would allow emergency use of the drug for patients “with mild to moderate symptoms who are at high risk of developing serious illness because of their age or other medical conditions” the AP says.
It is not authorized for use in sicker, hospitalized patients or those who need extra oxygen.
“Antibodies bind to the virus and help the immune system eliminate it. The Regeneron drug is a combo of two antibodies that seemed to do this well in lab tests,” the AP says.
An emergency authorization allows limited use of a drug while it is still being tested for safety and effectiveness. Early results suggest the Regeneron drug may reduce Covid-related hospitalization or emergency room visits.
“The drugs are given as a one-time treatment through an IV,” the AP says. “Under federal contracts, the drugs for now will be supplied for free, although patients may have to pay part of the cost of the IV treatment.”