COVID-19 Treatments and Therapeutics

UW Medicine offers the following COVID-19 therapeutics for patients with an active COVID-19 infection who are at higher risk according to the CDC for progressing to severe illness:

  • Bebtelovimab monoclonal antibody intravenous therapy. Learn more. 
  • Paxlovid oral antiviral medication. Learn more. 
  • Molnupiravir oral antiviral medication. Learn more. 

Monoclonal antibody intravenous therapy is only given by appointments scheduled by the UW Medicine COVID-19 Therapeutics Team and oral antivirals are only given with a prescription from a provider. Please DO NOT go to the emergency department or pharmacy to request therapy without prior approval. However, if you have life-threatening symptoms, please seek medical care immediately.

For patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, UW Medicine also offers Evusheld monoclonal antibody therapy, a preventive therapy that helps protect against COVID-19 prior to exposure. Learn more. 

The Washington State Department of Health has more information about COVID-19 therapeutics on their webpage here.

View Washington State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment information in multiple languages.

Additional languages on the DOH Website

How to request COVID-19 therapy for an active COVID-19 infection

Eligibility

Patients must meet eligibility criteria in order to receive monoclonal antibody treatment (Bebtelovimab) or oral antivirals (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir). Patients must be screened by a provider to ensure they meet these guidelines, such as:

  • When your symptoms started
  • Other medical conditions (for example if you have had a transplant)
  • If you are pregnant

Where to get treatment

UW Medicine

Please do not go to the emergency department or pharmacy to request monoclonal antibody treatment or oral antivirals. Instead work with your primary care provider to request treatment or a referral for treatment. If you do not have a provider or if your provider office is closed, you may “Get in Line” to see one of our providers with a telemedicine urgent care visit.

Other treatment locations

For non-UW Medicine locations in your area, use this federal Test to Treat Locator to help find sites for testing and, if appropriate, receive oral antivirals. There is also a call center available at 1.800.232.0233 (TTY 1.888.720.7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages. The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is available to specifically help people with disabilities access services. To contact DIAL, call 1.888.677.1199 or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

Research treatment alternatives

Fred Hutch’s COVID-19 Clinical Research Center (CCRC) has research opportunities for household contacts of persons with COVID-19 infection and for persons with long COVID. Patients can submit their information on the website or contact the CCRC at 206.667.7100.

 

How to request Evusheld monoclonal antibody therapy for pre-exposure prevention

UW Medicine is prioritizing giving Evusheld to patients who meet Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) eligibility and are at the highest risk of developing severe illness. To be eligible for this treatment through UW Medicine, the following statements must be true for you. You will be asked to confirm this information when you schedule. 

  1. You have moderate to severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or have received immunosuppressive medicines or treatments (see Frequently Asked Questions below for further information). 
  2. You are at least 12 years old and weigh at least 88 pounds. 
  3. You are not currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.  
  4. You have not had recent known close contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19. 

If you are ready to schedule or if you still have questions after reading the Frequently Asked Questions below, please contact your UW Medicine clinic.

UW Medicine cares for thousands of patients who are eligible to receive this therapy, so your patience and understanding are appreciated as we work to distribute this therapy to our most vulnerable patients.

If you are not a UW Medicine patient, you can ask your primary care physician to request a referral for treatment. Patients must be screened to ensure they meet the state defined eligibility criteria in order to receive treatment.

This treatment is not for patients with an active COVID-19 infection or for patients who have been recently exposed to COVID-19. Evusheld is only given by scheduled appointment; please DO NOT go to the emergency department to request Evusheld.

Frequently asked questions about Evusheld

Who is considered moderate to severely immunocompromised?

Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be immunocompromised (having a weakened immune system):

  • You are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
  • You received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
  • You received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
  • You have moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
  • You have advanced or untreated HIV infection.
  • You are receiving active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune response.

If I get Evusheld and then get COVID-19, am I still eligible for other treatments?

Yes. If you get Evusheld and get COVID-19, you are still eligible for available treatments, including monoclonal antibodies (Bebtelovimab).

I already got my COVID-19 vaccines and my booster, do I need Evusheld?

We recommend that patients who are moderately or severely immunosuppressed get Evusheld in addition to the vaccines they already received because it gives additional immune protection and reduces the risk of a severe COVID-19 infection.

How long after getting a COVID-19 vaccination should one wait before getting Evusheld?

Evusheld should be given at least 2 weeks after vaccination.

How long after Evusheld is given should one wait before getting a COVID-19 vaccination?

It is recommended to get the COVID-19 vaccine before getting Evusheld for most people. If you got Evusheld before getting a COVID-19 vaccine, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine at any time afterwards.

Is Evusheld required by the UW Medicine transplant service?

No. Evusheld is not a requirement for transplants at UW Medicine.

Does Evusheld interact with any of my other medications or treatments?

No. Evusheld does not interact with your other medications or treatments.

Can Evusheld cause rejection or problems with my transplant?

No. Evusheld does not cause rejection or other problems with your transplant.

Is Evusheld effective against the Omicron variant?

Evusheld’s effectiveness against Omicron is still being studied. Early lab data shows that Evusheld works against the Omicron variant, but it is less effective than against other types of COVID-19. It is still unknown if Evusheld will also be less effective in human studies a so additional research is being done.

*Everyone should continue to protect themselves by masking, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, and washing their hands or using hand sanitizer often. It is strongly recommended that caregivers and family members of people with weakened immune systems get their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters when eligible if they have not done so already.

 

Can Evusheld be used to treat COVID-19? 

No, Evusheld is NOT authorized by the FDA to treat COVID-19. 

Can Evusheld be used after being exposed to COVID-19?

No, Evusheld is NOT authorized for use in people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 infection. At this time, Evusheld is only approved for people who have NOT had a known exposure to COVID-19 within 14 days.