Lilly Says Antibody Drug Reduces COVID-19 Risk for Nursing Home Residents

Jan 21 – A trial of the antibody drug by Eli Lilly and Co showed it can reduce the risk of COVID-19 by 80% for nursing home residents, the company said Thursday, although the need for such Disease prevention drugs have decreased with the advent of vaccines.

The drug, bamlanivimab, received emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration last October, at a dose of 700 milligrams for non-hospitalized COVID patients.

The trial at the nursing home involved 965 participants – 299 residents and 666 employees – who tested negative for the coronavirus. They were treated with an intravenous infusion of 4,200 mg of bamlanivimab or a placebo.

After eight weeks, Lilly said trial participants were 57% less likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19 if they were treated with the antibody drug compared to a placebo, although the benefit was 80% for residents. of the asylum.

Older people in long-term care facilities are considered the most vulnerable to COVID-19, accounting for about 1% of the US population, although 40% of deaths related to the disease.

In the launch of the COVID vaccines that began in December, the federal government gave priority to nursing home residents and staff, but many are still waiting.

“Our teams are still working in nursing homes. Many people are not vaccinated yet,” said Daniel Skovronsky, Eli Lilly’s chief science officer.

The firm will seek an emergency use authorization for bamlanivimab in the prevention of COVID-19 in unvaccinated residents of nursing homes who are experiencing outbreaks of the disease, it noted.