Cd'A woman: Regeneron therapy works

Barb Chestine is thrilled with the results of the monoclonal antibodies treatment she received from Heritage Health after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Coeur d’Alene woman said her coronavirus symptoms improved within hours after getting the four injections.

“I almost swear I felt better walking out the door, but the next morning I definitely felt better,” said Chestine, who got the treatment last week. “It was great. The Regeneron Clinic was very smooth and Heritage Health did fantastic with it.”

Chestine believes being vaccinated against COVID-19 helped lessen her symptoms.

“I would not want to have this (COVID-19) without being vaccinated,” she said. “The Regeneron boosted my immune system, so it is well worth it. Both my husband and I have had Regeneron and we would not hesitate to take it again.”

“Everybody needs to be vaccinated,” Chestine said. “We have to fight the spread of this virus.”

Since Sept. 15, Heritage Health has delivered 198 monoclonal antibody treatments to patients, said Dr. Peter Purrington, Chief Clinical Officer for Heritage Health. Of those, 87 were age 65 and over. The youngest was 16; the oldest, 94.

“Patients like Barb are having very similar responses to the Regeneron therapy,” Purrington said. “It really does work with very few side effects.”

Purrington said the availability of therapy treatment comes at a critical time in North Idaho, which is experiencing a surge of coronavirus cases.

“This therapy gives us another tool in the fight against COVID-19 and it helps ease the burden on our hospital, which is extremely busy with COVID-19 cases,” Purrington said. “The antibody treatment is not a cure for COVID-19 nor a replacement for vaccination. If you have mild to moderate COVID symptoms and a positive COVID test, contact your primary care provider to see if monoclonal antibody treatment is right for you.”

To receive a REGENCOV therapy treatment, patients must have a positive COVID test and a referral from a primary care provider licensed in Idaho.

Receiving monoclonal antibodies treatment is free to patients. The treatment is provided on an outpatient basis via four subcutaneous injections at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The treatments are being offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only.

REGENCOV, a combination monoclonal antibody therapy, has been authorized under the FDA’s emergency use authorization. Monoclonal antibodies work by targeting the coronavirus spike protein, blocking the virus from entering your body's cells and stopping the infection from spreading.

To schedule an appointment call 208-620-5250.