St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton will be first in Ontario to offer COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy

Hamilton | Ontario | COVID | Health | Latest News |

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Published October 18, 2021 at 11:47 am

According to St. Joe's, initial studies show that COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy reduces hospitalization by 71 per cent and reduces death by 70 per cent in high-risk COVID-positive patients.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton announced Monday (Oct. 18) that it will be the first in Ontario to offer dedicated COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy.

The pilot program provides treatment for outpatients with COVID-19, who are at a higher risk of developing a severe illness.

While the first line of defense against COVID-19 is vaccination, this treatment offered by St. Joe’s will help to address the growing number of hospitalizations in high-risk individuals.

“Our goal is to reach the most high-risk COVID positive patients, to prevent them from getting so sick that they end up hospitalized or dying,” says Dr. Zain Chagla, Infectious Disease Specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. “This pilot project will assist researchers in determining its impact and at the same time free up beds in our hospitals so we can continue to treat patients with other ailments.”

A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that attaches to the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus and prevents the virus from entering and infecting healthy cells within the body.

According to St. Joe’s, initial studies show that COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy reduces hospitalization by 71 per cent and reduces death by 70 per cent in high-risk COVID-positive patients.

A physician referral is required for monoclonal antibody therapy.

The Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Clinic will be located at the St. Joe’s Charlton campus.

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