Bebtelovimab will be a new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (MAb).
The Omicron variant limits OUTpatient MAb treatment options to sotrovimab. Now bebtelovimab is another choice for COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of severe illness (diabetes, etc).
Similar to sotrovimab, bebtelovimab is for adults...or kids age 12 and up who weigh 40 kg or more...and is provided at no cost.
Bebtelovimab is a single IV dose given over 30 SECONDS...compared to 15 to 30 minutes for IV sotrovimab.
Plus bebtelovimab is active against the Omicron subvariant BA.2...while sotrovimab's activity is reduced. But so far, a low percentage of US cases are BA.2.
The concern with bebtelovimab is that evidence is very limited.
When sotrovimab or another first-line med isn't an option, expect clinicians to weigh the pros and cons of a second-line agent...bebtelovimab or molnupiravir...for high-risk OUTpatients.
Be aware, the dose of bebtelovimab is 175 mg...and it comes in 175 mg/2 mL single-dose vials.
Refrigerate the vials...but bring them to room temp for 20 minutes before drawing up a dose into a syringe.
If you draw doses up in the pharmacy, assign them a beyond-use date of 7 hours at room temp...or 24 hours in the fridge.
Get our chart, Treatments of Interest for COVID-19, to find more details about this growing list of meds.
- https://www.fda.gov/media/156151/download (3-4-22)
- https://www.fda.gov/media/156152/download (3-4-22)
- https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/management/clinical-management/nonhospitalized-adults--therapeutic-management/ (3-4-22)