HHS is revamping the way it distributes COVID-19 monoclonal antibody drugs as demand for them surges amid a rise in virus cases fueled by the delta variant.
As of Sept. 13, HHS transitioned from a direct ordering process to a state/territory-coordinated distribution system.
Three things to know:
- Monoclonal antibody drug administration sites will no longer order the drug directly from AmerisourceBergen. Instead, HHS will determine the amount each state and territory receives each week, and state health departments will decide which sites get the drug and how much.
- HHS will determine how much antibody drug to send to states based on weekly reports of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as well as data on how much antibody drug the states are using.
- "Transitioning to a state/territory-coordinated distribution system gives health departments maximum flexibility to get these critical drugs where they are needed most," HHS said in a news release. "HHS will continue to monitor product utilization rates, COVID-19 case burden and overall availability of monoclonal antibody therapeutics to determine when a shift back to the normal direct ordering process may be possible."
Read HHS' full news release here.