Do any treatments reduce the risk of infection after you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19?

Answer:

Two monoclonal antibody therapies are authorized by the FDA for post-exposure prophylaxis, i.e., to help prevent infection in people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Both therapies are combinations of two different monoclonal antibodies: One therapy is sold as REGEN-COV (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and is a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab, and the other is a combination of bamlanivimab and etesevimab (administered together). Either therapy can be given by intravenous infusion, while REGEN-COV can also be given by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection.

Both therapies had previously been authorized only for use in treatment of existing mild to moderate COVID-19 infection (i.e., not severe or hospitalized cases or cases requiring oxygen therapy).

Sign in to learn more about these monoclonal antibody therapies, including who can take them, how well they prevent COVID-19 in people with confirmed exposure, and how well one of the therapies prevents symptoms from developing in already infected people. Also, find out about an investigational pill that has shown benefit for treating COVID-19 and that is being evaluated for prevention of COVID-19.

ConsumerLab.com will update this article when and if other post-exposure prophylaxis treatments become available.