Government Purchases More COVID Treatments from Lilly

(Provided Photo/Eli Lilly and Co.)

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) says the U.S. government has made another purchase of 614,000 doses of the combination bamlanivimab and etesevimab antibody therapy for COVID-19. As part of the nearly $1.3 billion purchase, Lilly says it will deliver the doses no later than January 31.

In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an Emergency Use Authorization for the combination to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in patients 12 years of age and older who are at high risk for progressing to severe cases or hospitalization. It is also authorized to treat post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain individuals.

In June, Lilly paused shipments of the therapy as it worked to determine its efficacy against the Delta variant of COVID-19. However, shipments resumed in August after the FDA said the therapy was still effective in Delta cases.

Lilly says a minimum of 400,000 doses will be delivered by the end of the year.