Eli Lilly Working With State To Increase Availability Of Testing

Health officials are also looking to increase the availability of testing for COVID-19 illnesses caused by the virus through a partnership with Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. announced Wednesday.

Lilly says the Food and Drug Administration is helping to accelerate the process. 

Acccording to a release from Eli Lilly, the company will analyze test results taken from healthcare facilities across the state including nursing homes and emergency rooms. 

" Lilly 's scientists have been working day and night for several weeks to implement and validate this testing approach, and access or produce the chemical reagents that are in short supply across the country.  Lilly 's lab meets the required certifications to conduct testing, and we're optimistic in our ability to help accelerate testing,"  said  Daniel Skovronsky , M.D., Ph.D.,  Lilly 's chief scientific officer and president of  Lilly Research Laboratories in the statement.

As of Wednesday, March 18, the ISDH reported it had only tested 193 people. The state reported 39 positive COVID-19 cases Wednesday and two deaths. 

Gov. Eric Holcomb calls the state's partnership with Lilly "transformational." 

"We are grateful for Lilly’s dedication to the health and safety of Hoosiers as we continue to put all of our focus into slowing the spread," Holcomb said in a statement.

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