Eli Lilly makes deal with US on antibody doses

Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis announced Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. government to supply 300,000 doses of its monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab for $375 million and up to 650,000 more doses next year.

The company agreed to provide the initial doses within two months of receiving an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Lilly applied for the EUA several weeks ago, the same day President Donald Trump declared he had been “cured” from COVID-19 by a similar drug made by Regeneron.

Preliminary studies suggested that both bamlanivimab and Regeneron’s drug REGN-COV2 could be safe and effective at treating patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19, although definitive studies have not been completed.

The federal government this week stopped a trial of bamlanivimab in sicker patients, saying early results suggested it was unlikely to prove effective against the disease. Lilly said it could manufacture up to 1 million doses of bamlanivimab by the end of this year, and substantially more next year, as it brings more manufacturing capacity online.

SUNY students must show negative test before leaving for Thanksgiving break

All students in more than 64 state colleges and universities in New York must receive a negative test result within 10 days of leaving campus next month. Schools are required to submit a plan to test all oncampus students within that window by Nov. 5.

“By requiring all students to test negative before leaving, we are implementing a smart, sensible policy that protects students’ families and hometown communities and drastically reduces the chances of COVID-19 community spread,” Chancellor Jim Malatras said.

Most SUNY schools will shut down residential facilities after break and shift to remote learning.

Wis. reports worst day yet with 64 deaths

Wisconsin reported its most dismal coronavirus numbers yet as state health officials urged residents to leave home only when absolutely necessary and warned the crisis would escalate. The state reported 5,262 new cases and 64 deaths Tuesday, both records far above previous days. The death toll was 1,852.

There were 1,385 people hospitalized due to the virus in Wisconsin, including 339 in intensive care units. Both were all-time highs.

“This is no longer a slow-motion disaster,” said Gregory Poland, director of the vaccine research group at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “This is a disaster in warp speed. And it’s maddening to me as a physician because a whole lot of people have died and are dying.”

Hawaii to allow visitors from Japan

Starting Nov. 6, Hawaii will allow visitors from Japan to bypass the state’s 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative within 72 hours of departing for the islands. But Japanese travelers will still have to spend two weeks in quarantine upon returning home, which will likely limit the number of people taking advantage of the plan. Hawaii earlier this month implemented a similar program for U.S. travelers.

Before the pandemic, the state would welcome about 5,000 visitors from Japan daily. Those numbers have dwindled to almost none.