- Monoclonals from Regeneron and Eli Lilly have proven ineffective against omicron, which now causes more than 99% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S.
- The federal government in November nearly doubled its order for a third monoclonal antibody made by GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnology.
- Monoclonal antibodies, which are engineered proteins derived from patients who beat COVID-19, target and bind to specific spots on the virus, preventing it from entering human cells.
The Food and Drug Administration pulled its authorization of two of the most-used monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 this week, leaving doctors with fewer options to help their patients avoid the hospital.
Why did the FDA shut them down?
Because the two, from drug-makers Regeneron and Eli Lilly, don’t work against the omicron variant that now causes more than 99% of COVID-19 infections in the United States.