Lilly Antibody Drug Prevents COVID-19 in Nursing Communities, Study Finds

Eli Lilly & Co. reported late last week that bamlanivimab, an antibody-based drug, prevented COVID-19 infection among many nursing and assisted-living residents and staff members. According to Lilly, the drug lowered the risk of both staff and residents becoming sick with COVID-19 by about 57 percent, compared with a placebo, eight weeks after receiving doses. Among residents, the company noted, the effect was more significant with an 80 percent reduction in COVID-19 risk. The partial results were from a Phase III study conducted in tandem with NIH. Lilly announced the findings in a news release and said it plans to publish the full results in a peer-reviewed medical journal. The company plans to ask FDA to expand the authorized use for bamlanivimab to include protecting people in long-term care communities where someone has recently been diagnosed with COVID-19.