(Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said it will limit the distribution of Eli Lilly and Co.’s COVID-19 antibody treatment in three states over concerns about the impact of a new variant on its efficacy.
The US government is evaluating the recommendations for the use of the antibody, bamlanivimab, in regions where the variant, CAL.20C, found in California, is spreading in large numbers. (https://bit.ly/3ljEZzK)
While evaluations are ongoing, direct ordering of bamlanivimab is not permitted in California, Arizona and Nevada, HHS said, adding that other authorized COVID-19 antibody treatments will remain available in the states.
In November, the US FDA approved emergency use of bamlanivimab and a two-antibody cocktail developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Eli Lilly also has a combination therapy of two antibodies, bamlanivimab and etesevimab, which was approved in February.
Eli Lilly said earlier this week that his combination therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization and deaths by 87% in high-risk COVID-19 patients. (https://reut.rs/3vlPyqo)
(Reporting by Amruta Khandekar; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)