The UK has pipped the EU to the post in granting a marketing authorization to what the health secretary describes as “a significant addition to our armoury to tackle COVID-19.”

Agency approved Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody cocktail Inmazeb and Ridgeback’s mAB Ebanga on data from a multi-arm, adaptive trial in which several investigational agents were independently compared to a control group. Efficacy for both drugs was demonstrated on a mortality endpoint, with lingering uncertainties to be addressed through postmarketing studies.

India expert panel decides not to back Lilly’s bamlanivimab as a COVID-19 therapy, at least for now, under the accelerated approval route and without local trials, but the US firm is still pursuing an authorization request. Physicians underscore the need for more data on important patient outcomes for the antibody product.