New clinic providing monoclonal antibody COVID-19 treatment opens in St. Paul

A new clinic dedicated to expanding access to monoclonal antibody COVID-19 treatment is opening in St. Paul.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported the new clinic opened Tuesday to help qualifying patients receive outpatient treatment.

Those who experience mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are also at a high risk of their illness leading to hospitalization or death are eligible, MDH reports. Learn more about those who are considered to be high-risk patients here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monoclonal antibodies can help the immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the virus.

Dr. Frank Rhame, an Allina Health physician at Abbott Northwestern, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that in monocolonal antibody treatments, "you figure out a strong antibody and you make it in vast amounts. You make a clone and you make it over and over and over again and you use it to make that same antibody many, many, many times."

Inside Your Health: Monoclonal antibodies

To receive this treatment, individuals should contact their health care provider or visit the Minnesota Resource Allocation Platform portal to request an appointment. The new clinic, located near Interstate 35E and Arlington Avenue West, is not a walk-in facility.

"This clinic will strengthen the existing capacity of providers in the Twin Cities to give this life-saving treatment," MDH Commissioner Jan Malcolm said in a statement.