With the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 now dominating the pandemic’s reach, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sought ways to halt its effects, and as part of this effort, last week purchased 600,000 courses of a new monoclonal antibody.
This antibody, known as bebtelovimab, was developed by Eli Lily and Company. In testing, it has demonstrated some successful activity against Omicron, though it still awaits emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If approved, HHS will immediately offer the treatments to states without charge.
“We have more COVID-19 treatments than ever before, we are providing a billion free at-home tests, and we have enough vaccines to get everyone vaccinated and boosted,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said. “If authorized by FDA, this purchase will add an additional 600,000 courses of treatment to our nation’s ‘medicine cabinet’ that could help prevent severe outcomes for Americans who do get sick with COVID-19. Our top priority is preventing people from getting sick in the first place, which is why it is critical that Americans continue to get vaccinated and get their booster shot as soon as they’re eligible.”
Current expectations would see HHS receive approximately 300,000 treatment courses this February, followed by the same amount next month.
In some regards, this addition makes up for recent data that showed two other monoclonal antibody treatments, including another made by Lilly, were highly unlikely to work against Omicron, which now makes up nearly all cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. Previously, bamlanivimab/etesevimab and REGEN-COV had been of some use in managing COVID-19.
Included in this new contract is an option for 500,000 additional doses, at the government’s discretion.