Eli Lilly Gets Emergency Authorization From FDA For COVID-19 Antibody Treatment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency authorization to Eli Lilly for its COVID-19 antibody drug bamlanivimab.

The Indianapolis-based company will be able to provide the treatment to mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are 12 years and older and at high risk of it progressing to a more severe case and/or hospitalization.

Last month the U.S. government agreed to initially purchase 300,000 doses of the antibody therapy to distribute across the country pending FDA approval.

According to Lilly, those who receive one of the treatments purchased through the federal program will face no out-of-pocket expenses for the drug but could still have to pay fees from health care providers – something that could cost the patient hundreds of dollars.

Manufacturing of bamlanivimab has been ongoing while the pharmaceutical company conducted trials of the drug with an expected 1 million doses of the antibody to be ready by the end of this year.

Contact reporter Samantha at shorton@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @SamHorton5.