Monoclonal Antibody Reduced COVID-19 Risks at Nursing Facilities

The JAMA launched an Orginal Investigation among residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure to discover what is the effect of bamlanivimab on the incidence of COVID-19?

This JAMA investigation concluded on June 3, 2021, 'Among residents and staff in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, treatment during August-November 2020 with bamlanivimab monotherapy reduced the incidence of COVID-19 infection.' 

This randomized phase 3 clinical trial included 966 participants and staff at US skilled nursing and assisted living facilities with at least 1 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 index case and who were negative at baseline for SARS-CoV-2 infection and serology, enrolled from August to November 2020.

The incidence of COVID-19 infection among those treated with bamlanivimab vs. placebo was 8.5% vs. 15.2%, respectively, a statistically significant difference.

All COVID-19–related deaths reported during this trial occurred among participants in the placebo group.

This potential protective effect of bamlanivimab in reducing mortality could be due to fewer participants acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infections and lower viral loads among those infected since persistently high viral load has previously been identified as a risk factor for worse outcomes.

'The results presented herein primarily represent validation of the use of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies as protective passive immunotherapy against COVID-19, with potential clinical relevance for antibody therapies in continued distribution,' concluded these researchers.

Eli Lilly's Bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) is an investigational neutralizing IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against the spike protein SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, designed to block viral attachment and entry into human cells.