COVID-19 Therapeutics Information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized several medications to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in nonhospitalized patients who are at high-risk for progressing to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. Please refer to CDC’s website on COVID-19 treatments and ASPR’s COVID-19 therapeutics page for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 therapeutics. These therapies require a prescription from a provider. Pharmacies with therapeutics available can be found at the following site: COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator
Additional information on COVID-19 therapeutics and can be found at: HHS COVID-19 Therapeutics and Treatments
Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off infection. Several monoclonal antibody products have received Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) from the FDA to help prevent individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 from developing severe illness. Monoclonal antibodies are given by a one-time injection and need a prescription from a healthcare provider. Information on susceptibility of variants to COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies can be found here.
Antivirals
Oral antiviral drugs are medicines that fight against the COVID-19 virus in the body that help to prevent an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 from developing severe illness. Antiviral drugs need a prescription from a healthcare provider. Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics, which fight against bacterial infections. Two oral products have been granted EUAs by the FDA, Lagevrio (molnupiravir), and ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid).
In addition, Remdesivir is an antiviral medication that is given by an injection over three separate days. Remdesivir also requires a prescription from a healthcare provider.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) with EVUSHELD
Tixagevimab plus cilgavimab (Evusheld) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody combination that is given by injection with a prescription from a healthcare provider for pre-exposure prophylaxis.Pre-exposure Prophylaxis with EVUSHELDis authorized for those individuals who are not currently infected with COVID-19, and who have not been exposed to an individual infected with COVID-19 but who are at risk for an inadequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or have a documented history of severe adverse reaction to an available COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components.
A comprehensive list of COVID-19 Therapeutics, EUAs and Fact Sheets for providers and patients can be found in this table.
Patient COVID-19 Therapeutics Handouts and Resources
- Script to Inform Individuals About Monoclonal Antibody Treatment (PDF) (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
- Patient Fact Sheet: HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Talking About COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies (HHS)
- What are Monoclonal Antibodies? (CombatCOVID-19)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Print Resources: Materials for various audiences (individuals, providers, first responders, etc.)
Educational Videos
Multilingual Resources (FDA)
- Know Your Treatment Options for COVID-19 in English, Korean and Tagalog
- Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19 in English, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog and Portuguese
- Beware of Fraudulent Coronavirus Tests, Vaccines and Treatments in English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog
- ¿Cuáles son los tratamientos para el COVID-19? (YouTube) (What are the treatments for COVID-19? – National Institutes of Health)
- Opciones de tratamiento para el COVID-19 (YouTube) (Options for COVID-19 Treatment – FDA)
- Tratamiento de COVID-19 con anticuerpos monoclonales: ¿Qué es y cómo funciona? (YouTube) (Monoclonal Antibody Treatment: How does it work? – Combat COVID)
Posibles opciones de tratamiento para el COVID-19 (Combat COVID)