Monoclonal antibody treatment orders rapidly increasing in COVID surge states

Monoclonal antibody is overwhelmingly going to area areas where ICU capacities are most strained.

The use of monoclonal antibodies as a way to prevent people from getting very sick with COVID-19 is rapidly increasing -- alongside the grim statistics on surging infection rates across the country. Federal health officials have seen a "significant increase" in the ordering of monoclonal antibodies in recent weeks with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services telling ABC News orders have increased by more than 1,200%. HHS said they are currently shipping about 120,000 patient courses of Regeneron's monoclonal antibody treatment a week. More than three-quarters of those orders are going to the regions in the country with low vaccination rates and states currently getting clobbered hardest by COVID's surge -- and where intensive care unit capacities are most strained.