The US government has stopped the distribution of treatments made by Regeneron and Eli Lilly because they are not effective against the omicron variant.
Janet Gilleran, a registered nurse, is about to treat coronaviruses patient Mike Mokler. Mokler said he was positive after a coworker tested positive for the coronaviruses. The staff was setting up for the distribution of the antibodies. Craig F. Walker is a photographer for The Boston Globe.
Boston Globe.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services decided to stop distributing two treatments.
According to the FDA fact sheets updated Thursday, the treatments of Regeneron and Eli Lilly are not likely to be effective against omicron.
The HHS said that the treatments will be paused until new data on their effectiveness is received.
In places where omicron is less common and there is a limited supply of alternative treatment options, use of these treatments may still be appropriate.
The area of the sotrovimab target is unaffected by omicron's mutations, whereas the area of the spike proteins of coronaviruses has been prevented from attaching to them.
The Respiratory Infection Clinic at the Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA has a treatment of a monoclonal... [+] antibody by Nicholas Capote of the pharmacy department. The staff was setting up for the distribution of the antibodies. Craig F. Walker is a photographer for The Boston Globe.
Boston Globe.
High-risk coronavirus patients can be prevented from developing serious illness with the use of monoclonal antibody treatments. Hospitals in the New York area ran out of sotrovimab just as the omicron variant was gaining popularity in the U.S. The most recent shipment of sotrovimab was distributed to the U.S. states and territories according to factors including infections and hospitalization rates.
There is a structure called the Tangent.
The lab-grown antibodies are delivered through an IV needle and help reinforce the body's natural immune system as it develops its own antibodies to the virus. HHS said that the treatment doesn't replace a need for vaccinations.
The U.S. paused allocation of Regeneron, Lilly COVID-19.
Some New York hospitals are running out of treatment.
