How Will The Limited Supply Of Antibody Drugs For COVID-19 Be Allocated?

Eli Lilly researchers prepare cells to produce possible COVID-19 antibodies in a laboratory in Indianapolis. The drugmaker has asked the U.S. government to allow emergency use of its experimental antibody therapy.

David Morrison / AP

The Food and Drug Administration is evaluating two potential drugs that could help keep people healthy after they’ve been infected with the coronavirus.

So far, there’s no clear system to make sure they would be allocated fairly or how to pay for these expensive drugs over the long haul.

“Demand is going to far outstrip supply here,” says Rena Conti at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.