Bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555) significantly reduced the risk of contracting symptomatic COVID-19 among residents and staff in long-term care facilities, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced. The 965 participants who tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at baseline (299 residents and 666 staff) were included in the analysis of primary and key secondary endpoints for assessing prevention, while the 132 participants (41 residents and 91 staff) who tested positive for the virus at baseline were included in exploratory analyses for assessing treatment.

After all participants reached 8 weeks of follow-up, there was a significantly lower frequency of symptomatic COVID-19 (the primary endpoint) in the bamlanivimab treatment arm versus placebo. Results for all key secondary endpoints also reached statistical significance for both the overall and resident populations. “The results of this study further support the belief that bamlanivimab, and potentially other monoclonal antibodies, can reduce symptoms and may even prevent COVID-19” said Myron S. Cohen, M.D., CoVPN co-principal investigator and director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

BLAZE-2 is a first-of-its-kind COVID-19 trial designed to evaluate this vulnerable population by addressing the challenging aspects of running a clinical trial in long-term care facilities, which normally do not conduct clinical trials. Bamlanivimab is authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in high-risk patients. For more information on the use of bamlanivimab, contact Lilly’s 24-hour support line at 1-855-LillyC19 (1-855-545-5921).

Stay the course, stay well, mask up, get vaccinated, and stay tuned!