Negative FDA update on bebtelovimab

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday updated the  Health Care Provider Fact Sheet for bebtelovimab with specific information regarding expected reduced activity against certain emerging Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2. This information shows that bebtelovimab is not expected to neutralize Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1.

Bebtelovimab (LY-CoV1404) is the second antibody developed through Canada-based AbCellera’s (Nasdaq: ABCL) collaboration with US pharma major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY). It was granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA in February this year.

Lilly entered into a purchase agreement with the US government to supply up to 600,000 doses of bebtelovimab for at least $720 million no later than March 31, 2022, with an option of 500,000 additional doses.