‘Substantial surge’ in monoclonal antibody treatments spurs HHS policy changes to ensure availability

The Department of Health and Human Services is making temporary changes to its distribution policies for monoclonal antibody therapies, with an eye on maintaining sufficient supply to meet current and future demand. HHS says the changes, which are in response to “a substantial surge in the utilization of monoclonal antibody drugs, particularly in areas of the country with low vaccination rates,” include: 

• limiting immediate orders and shipment only to administration sites with HHSProtect accounts and current utilization reporting; and 
• reviewing all orders for alignment with utilization, currently estimated at 70% of orders. 

  
Hospitals with questions about ordering and distributing these treatments can email the Federal COVID-19 Response Team at COVID19therapeutics@hhs.gov.