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Lilly Chooses Amber Specialty, Hy-Vee to Dispense its COVID-19 Antibody Treatment
Given together, bamlanivimab and etesevimab have an emergency use authorization from the FDA to both treat COVID-19 and prevent infection in those who have been exposed.
Lilly has chosen Amber Specialty Pharmacy and Hy-Vee Pharmacy Solutions to dispense the infused medications bamlanivimab and etesevimab, also known as BAM. When combined, bamlanivimab and etesevimab is a monoclonal antibody treatment authorized for emergency use for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19.
The organizations have 21 locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. All locations are licensed to administer the REGEN-COV antibody treatment. A list of locations can be found here.
Amber Specialty and Hy-Vee were part of the original pilot program through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Home Infusion Association. The program provided treatment to patients across the country, primarily servicing long-term care facilities.
Bamlanivimab is a recombinant, neutralizing human IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Etesevimab is a recombinant fully human monoclonal neutralizing antibody that specifically binds to the SARS-CoV-2 surface spike protein receptor and can block the binding of the virus to the ACE2 host cell surface receptor. Given together, they have an emergency use authorization from the FDA to both treat COVID-19 and prevent infection in those who have been exposed.
The FDA expanded Eli Lilly’s emergency use authorization (EUA) for bamlanivimab 700 mg and etesevimab 1400 mg administered together to include post-exposure prophylaxis.
Related: FDA Expands EUA for Lilly’s COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody
Lilly also announced an agreement for the U.S. government to purchase 388,000 doses of etesevimab to complement doses of bamlanivimab previously purchased by the U.S. government, with about 200,000 doses expected to ship third quarter of 2021 and the remaining to be shipped in fourth quarter. This transaction is expected to generate about $330 million in revenue in the second half of 2021, according to a Lilly statement.
Amber Specialty and Hy-Vee were also chosen by Regeneron for the distribution of its monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.
Related: Amber Specialty, Hy-Vee to Dispense Regeneron Monoclonal Antibody for COVID-19
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