more treatments, like monoclonal antibodies, than ever.
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How does bebtelovimab work?
Bebtelovimab works by binding to the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19, similar to other monoclonal antibodies that have been authorized for the treatment of high-risk patients, the FDA said.
The agency based its decision on a series of clinical trials involving more than 700 COVID patients. The rates of hospitalization and death seen in those who received bebtelovimab alone or with other monoclonal antibodies were generally lower than those of a group that received a placebo, the FDA said.
“Lilly has worked hard to fight this pandemic. Early in 2021, prior to the identification of the Omicron variant, Lilly scientists were already working to develop bebtelovimab as a broadly neutralizing antibody that could be used to fight a highly mutated variant, should one emerge,” Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific and medical officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, said in a company statement.
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“With the emergence of variants such as Omicron, treatment options remain limited. Lilly is pleased to provide another treatment option to help address the ongoing needs of patients and health care providers who continue to battle this pandemic,” Skovronsky says.
Possible side effects of bebtelovimab include itching, rash, infusion-related reactions, nausea and vomiting.
