Consequences of rush to emergency use authorization of bamlanivimab
Until November 2020, treatment for nonhospitalized patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection was largely limited to supportive measures. This changed on November 9, 2020, following emergency use authorization (EUA) for use of bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody administered in an ambulatory care setting by one-time intravenous (IV) infusion, to treat adolescents and adults with mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection at high risk for progressing to hospitalization.1 Prior to the revocation of the bamlanivimab monotherapy EUA on April 16, 2021, due to ineffectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 variants, nearly 1 million doses were distributed.