U.S. health officials have approved a new Alzheimer’s drug that can modestly slow the disease.

U.S. health regulators have authorized a new antibody drug that targets the omicron variant.

DETROIT – There has been some positive news in the search for a coronavirus (COVID-19) treatment. Eli Lilly has been granted emergency use authorization for its monoclonal antibody therapy. It’s similar to the drug by Regeneron that was used to treat President Donald Trump. Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 has authorization to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients who are not hospitalized but are at high risk. The drug is an artificially produced antibody that neutralizes the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

FILE - In this May 2020 photo provided by Eli Lilly, researchers prepare cells to produce possible COVID-19 antibodies for testing in a laboratory in Indianapolis. The drug company says it has asked the U.S. government to allow emergency use of an experimental antibody therapy based on early results from a study suggesting the drug reduced symptoms, the amount of virus and hospitalizations and ER visits for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. Lilly has already started making one of the two antibodies in its drug, betting that ongoing studies would prove it worthwhile. The amount of virus was significantly lower 11 days later in those given the drug -- the main goal of the study. About 5.8% of patients given placebo required hospitalization or an emergency room visit versus 0.9% of those given the antibodies.