HHS to purchase antibody treatment for COVID-19 outpatients

The departments of Health and Human Services and Defense have agreed to purchase the first 300,000 doses of the investigational antibody drug bamlanivimab, also known as LY-CoV555, which state and territorial health departments will distribute to health care facilities for use in COVID-19 outpatients if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the drug.

Under the $375 million agreement with drug maker Eli Lilly and Company, the federal government also can purchase up to 650,000 additional doses of the intravenous infusion drug, which is currently in phase 3 clinical trials.