Lilly to launch real-world Covid-19 study of bamlanivimab in New Mexico

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly), a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry, has announced plans to conduct a new pragmatic study of its experimental Covid-19 treatment, bamlanivimab (LY-CoV555), in high-risk patients. This ambitious study, set to take place in New Mexico, aims to gather critical real-world data on the drug’s effectiveness and safety across a diverse population, including those from both rural and urban areas.

The decision to launch the study in New Mexico comes after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted bamlanivimab emergency use authorization (EUA) for treating mild to moderate Covid-19 patients who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease. The new research will focus on evaluating the impact of bamlanivimab on reducing Covid-19 hospitalizations, with a particular focus on underserved communities, including Native American populations.

Eli Lilly expands research efforts for bamlanivimab

Daniel Skovronsky, chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, emphasized the importance of further research to support the initial success of bamlanivimab. In a statement, he noted, “It is important to continue building on the evidence base for bamlanivimab through ongoing studies, including those in a real-world setting.” Skovronsky also highlighted the potential of this study to explore innovative infusion settings, which could enhance the treatment’s accessibility and inform best practices for replication by healthcare institutions across the country.

Lilly’s pragmatic study will take a comprehensive approach, using mobile research units to provide support for on-site clinical trials in underserved areas. The mobile units, which include customized recreational vehicles (RVs), are designed to bring clinical trials directly to communities with limited access to healthcare facilities. These units will create an infusion clinic on-site, allowing patients who may otherwise be excluded from clinical studies due to logistical barriers to participate in the research.

Partnerships to drive research forward

In addition to the New Mexico study, Eli Lilly has partnered with UnitedHealth Group, a major US managed care provider, to broaden its research into bamlanivimab’s effects on high-risk Covid-19 patients. This collaboration is part of Lilly’s broader strategy to evaluate bamlanivimab’s potential to prevent severe disease progression and hospitalization across diverse patient populations.

The New Mexico study is set to begin in the coming weeks, and the data collected will play a critical role in determining how best to deploy bamlanivimab in real-world settings. The findings could have far-reaching implications for improving the treatment of Covid-19 in vulnerable populations, helping to reduce hospitalizations and provide better outcomes for patients across the country.

As more details emerge from this ongoing study, it is clear that Eli Lilly is committed to making significant strides in the fight against Covid-19, leveraging innovative strategies and partnerships to ensure that life-saving treatments like bamlanivimab reach those who need them most.