The POTUS’ physician, Dr. Stanley Conley, revealed that the President had an experimental polyclonal antibody treatment injected to him last Friday. The treatment serves as a safety measure following his diagnosis with COVID-19.
Trump is the most recent world leader that had contracted the deadly coronavirus. He had announced this news through his twitter account last Friday night. The First Lady Melania Trump has also caught the virus.
Before this announcement, Trump and the First Lady had begun self-isolation since Thursday following the adviser Hope Hicks’ diagnosis. Hicks was traveling with the POTUS to and from the first presidential debate and tested positive afterward.
President Donald Trump was flown to the Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, MD, within 24 hours of his diagnosis. Medical experts gave this advice “out of abundance of caution” while he has mild symptoms. Dr. Conley added that the President “remains fatigued but in good spirits.” The First Lady has a mild cough and headache, while the rest of the First Family members tested negative.
Regeneron made the experimental polyclonal antibody treatment called REGN-COV2. The company is one of the many laboratories that are creating a viable antibody treatment to fight COVID-19.
Regeneron acknowledged Trump’s use of their REGN-COV2 and approved it out of a “compassionate use request.” The request came from the President’s doctors and is only authorized for “rare, exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis.”
Trump was also infused with 8 grams of the said antiviral antibody cocktail. According to the initial data from the REGN-COV2’s trial, released last September 29, the dosage is considered high. The report also indicated a positive outcome for patients. The company suggests that “it reduced viral load and the time to alleviate symptoms in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19.”
However, this drug is still experimental, and the FDA has not authorized its emergency use. Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) is the act of allowing “unapproved medical products… to be used in an emergency…” The government expressed its inclination to work together with Regeneron by giving them $450 million to mass-produce the antiviral cocktail.
Also, Trump took Remdesivir made by Gilead Sciences before infusing him with REGN-COV2. It is also an antiviral drug which prohibits COVID-19 to replicate. Remdesivir has not been approved by the FDA but was authorized for emergency use last May. Doctors are also giving President Trump zinc, vitamin D, famotidine (stomach acid blocker), melatonin (sleeping aid), and aspirin.
Still, with the COVID-19 treatment plan, POTUS is not on the exact path to recovery. His age and weight are considered to be risk factors for developing severe complications from Covid-19.
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