Monoclonal Antibody Sites in Florida to Temporarily Close Down After FDA Limits Use of Two Treatments; Shown to be Ineffective Against Omicron Variant

Sites for monoclonal antibody treatments have been closed down until further notice after it was found that they don’t work against COVID-19‘s Omicron variant.

On Monday, the Florida Department of Health announced on Twitter that it would temporarily be shutting down all monoclonal antibody sites after finding that they don’t work as a treatment for the Omicron variant. The move comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would be limiting the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments due to them not being effective against the Coronavirus strain, ABC Actions News reports.

“As a result of the @US_FDA’s abrupt decision to remove the EUAs for two monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibody treatment sites will be closed until further notice. Full press release is below,” the Florida Department of Health wrote in its tweet. The FDA said it would be limiting the use of two monoclonal antibody treatments, bamlanivimab and etesevimab, which are administered together, the news outlet reports.

However, the sites could be reauthorized to use the treatments in the future. In a statement, the FDA explained its decision.

“Because data show these treatments are highly unlikely to be active against the omicron variant, which is circulating at a very high frequency throughout the United States, these treatments are not authorized for use in any U.S. states, territories, and jurisdictions at this time. In the future, if patients in certain geographic regions are likely to be infected or exposed to a variant that is susceptible to these treatments, then use of these treatments may be authorized in these regions,” the FDA said in a statement. It went on to say that it “reauthorize their use” if it is found that the treatments work against future variants.

As a result of the @US_FDA's abrupt decision to remove the EUAs for two monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibody treatment sites will be closed until further notice. Full press release is below. pic.twitter.com/RGeWTPwxCs

— Florida Dept. of Health (@HealthyFla) January 25, 2022