The US Food and Drug Administration approved Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 dual-antibody therapy for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms in all children, including infants, who are at risk of serious disease on Friday.
Bamlanivimab with etesevimab had previously been approved for youngsters aged 12 and above who weighed at least 88 pounds.
“Children under one year of age, who are exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, may be at particularly high risk for severe COVID-19 and this authorization addresses the medical needs of this vulnerable population,” said Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.The FDA authorization also allows the administration of the therapy as a preventive measure in children who are exposed to the virus.
The therapy, however, is not a substitute for vaccination, Cavazzoni said.
