Frequently Asked Questions

: When there’s a virus in your body, like COVID-19, your immune system makes antibodies to fight it off. But it takes time for your body to make antibodies for a new virus — and in the meantime, you could get very sick.

Bamlanivimab is a neutralizing antibody drug. That means it contains man-made antibodies that are similar to the antibodies of patients who recovered from COVID-19. Scientists think that these antibodies may help limit the amount of COVID-19 virus in your body. This could give your body more time to learn how to make its own antibodies.

: Scientists aren’t sure yet. They’re still studying bamlanivimab in clinical trials, and there’s a lot they don’t know about the benefits and risks.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA has given a temporary Emergency Use Authorization for doctors to use bamlanivimab with certain patients. This means that based on the results of the research so far, the FDA has found that the drug may have more benefits than risks in treating COVID-19 during the pandemic.

: Everyone is different, so there’s no way to know for sure. In clinical trials, people who took bamlanivimab started to see their symptoms improve after about 6 days, on average, compared to 8 days for people who took an infusion with no medicine in it.

Even after the treatment, you could still pass COVID-19 to other people. It’s important to stay away from other people for as long as your doctor tells you to.

: No. Vaccines help your body make its own antibodies over time. Antibody drugs give you antibodies that may start working more quickly to help your body fight a virus.

Bamlanivimab is not a vaccine. It does not have any COVID-19 virus in it.

: Bamlanivimab is among the first drugs given Emergency Use Authorization to treat people with COVID-19 who are newly diagnosed and have mild to moderate symptoms.

Your doctor may also recommend over-the-counter medicines — like pain relievers to help with fever and body aches, or cough medicine so coughing doesn’t keep you awake at night. These medicines can help you feel better, but they won’t help your body fight the virus or make you less likely to need to go to the hospital.

And scientists around the world are working hard to develop new treatments to help people get better — and to end the pandemic sooner.

: You may be able to join a clinical trial for a COVID-19 treatment that doesn’t have Emergency Use Authorization yet, but participating doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the treatment. If you’re interested in joining a clinical trial, talk to your doctor.

: It is important to first discuss with your doctor or healthcare provider whether bamlanivimab is an appropriate treatment option for you. The Patient Guide also includes information about the Emergency Use Authorization for bamlanivimab. If you have additional questions, please call the dedicated Lilly COVID Hotline at 1-855-545-5921. To find an infusion site near you, visit our Getting Started page.