St. Luke’s Health Network

1,000th COVID patient gets monoclonal antibody therapy

On Feb. 24, St. Luke’s University Health Network treated its 1,000th COVID patient with life-saving monoclonal antibody (MAB) therapy.

Monoclonal antibody therapy at St. Luke’s has helped hospitals in the greater Lehigh Valley region avoid being overwhelmed during the current surge, allowing certain high-risk patients to recover quickly in the comfort of their own homes.

Granted emergency authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, monoclonal antibodies block the virus’ attachment and entry into human cells. Infusion has been found to be particularly effective in preventing the need for hospitalization in select, higher-risk patients including those who are 65 years of age or older and whose infection, identified early, does not yet require supplemental oxygen.

In November, St. Luke’s became the first health care provider in Pennsylvania to offer MAB therapy in an outpatient setting. The first clinic opened at St. Luke’s Easton Campus, followed shortly thereafter by a second clinic at St. Luke’s Warren Campus in Phillipsburg, N.J.

Earlier this month, St. Luke’s Miners Campus opened St. Luke’s third MAB clinic – the only facility in rural Schuylkill County offering this important therapy.