INDIANAPOLIS--The federal government is stopping the distribution of a COVID-19 antibody treatment by Eli Lilly on its own because of an increase in coronavirus variants across the U.S.
Bamlanivimab can still be used with etesevimab, which is another monoclonal antibody treatment developed by Eli Lilly. The Food and Drug Administration says the two Eli Lilly treatments seem to work against the variants as a combination, but not as standalone treatments.
Operation Warp Speed invested in the treatment throughout its development. In December, the US government spent $812.5 million to buy 650,000 additional doses of bamlanivimab.
The government has sent out nearly 800,000 doses of bamlanivimab as of March 2. The updated guidance says that if health care providers want to use their existing supply of bamlanivimab, they can.
