Eli Lilly COVID-19 therapy unlikely to neutralize new Omicron subvariants - FDA
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The FDA warned healthcare providers Friday that bebtelovimab, a COVID-19 therapy developed by Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), is not expected to neutralize two emerging Omicron subvariants called BQ.1 and BQ.1.1.
Issuing an update to Health Care Provider Fact Sheet on bebtelovimab, the agency reiterated that the treatment remains authorized in the U.S. until further notice.

The COVID-19 pills Paxlovid from Pfizer (PFE) and Lagevrio from Merck (MRK)/ Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, as well as antiviral injection Veklury from Gilead (GILD), are expected to retain efficacy against circulating COVID variants including BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, the FDA added.
Discovered by AbCellera Biologics (NASDAQ:ABCL), bebtelovimab is a monoclonal antibody licensed and developed by Eli Lilly (LLY).
According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 have accounted for over 27% of COVID cases in the U.S. as of Oct. 29, up from ~16% a week ago.
Early this year, Lilly (LLY) agreed to deliver 600K doses of bebtelovimab to the U.S. government for at least $720M.