Bamlanivimab reduces risk of COVID-19 Infection: JAMA Study

Ever since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, healthcare workers have been trying their best to contain the infection. They are at high risk for developing the infection as close living environments, presymptomatic and asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and frequent staff contact required to meet the care needs of frail residents contributes to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Preventive interventions are needed to protect residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities from COVID-19 during outbreaks in their facilities. Bamlanivimab, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2, may confer rapid protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19. With this background, investigators carried out a randomised clinical trial to determine the effect of bamlanivimab on the incidence of COVID-19 among residents and staff of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

The study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, phase 3 trial that included a total of 1175 participants between August 2 to November 20, 2020. The participants were residents and staff at US skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. There was at least 1 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 index case and participants were randomized to receive a single intravenous infusion of bamlanivimab, 4200 mg (n = 588), or placebo (n = 587). The primary outcome was incidence of COVID-19 infection and mild or worse disease severity within 21 days of detection, within 8 weeks of randomization. Secondary outcomes included incidence of moderate or worse COVID-19 severity and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

According to the results of the study,

Bamlanivimab significantly reduced the incidence of COVID-19 in the prevention population compared with placebo

Five deaths attributed to COVID-19 were reported by day 57; all occurred in the placebo group.

Reported adverse events was 20.1% in the bamlanivimab group and 18.9% in the placebo group. The most common adverse events were urinary tract infection (reported by 12 participants [2%] who received bamlanivimab and 14 [2.4%] who received placebo) and hypertension (reported by 7 participants [1.2%] who received bamlanivimab and 10 [1.7%] who received placebo).

The trial clearly demonstrates that among residents and staff in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, bamlanivimab monotherapy reduced the incidence of COVID-19 infection, suggesting the potential of bamlanivimab as a preventive intervention.

"Further research is needed to assess preventive efficacy with current patterns of viral strains with combination monoclonal antibody therapy," the investigators concluded.

Reference:

Study titled, "Effect of Bamlanivimab vs Placebo on Incidence of COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff of Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities: A Randomized Clinical Trial," published in the Journal of American Medical Association.

DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.8828