The Prevention of COVID-19 in High-Risk Patients Using Tixagevimab-Cilgavimab (Evusheld): Real-World Experience at a Large Academic Center

Am J Med. 2023 Jan;136(1):96-99. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.08.019. Epub 2022 Sep 29.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. Tixagevimab-cilgavimab (Tix-Cil) is a combination of 2 monoclonal antibodies approved for the prevention of COVID-19 complications in this high-risk group.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who received Tix-Cil during the Omicron variant period (January 17 to April 23, 2022), with a follow-up period until May 24, 2022. We collected data about patient underlying comorbidities and post Tix-Cil COVID-19 infections, deaths, and hospitalizations.

Results: There were 463 patients with a median age of 68 years, of which 51% were male, 79% White, 13.2% Hispanic, 1.7% Black/African American, and 5.8% identified as Other. A total of 18% had undergone a solid organ transplantation or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Only 6/98 (6.1%) had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at a median 48 days (interquartile range [IQR] 27.5, 69) follow-up. Forty-two patients (9.1%) were hospitalized, and 4 (0.9%) died, but none were attributed to COVID-19 or Tix-Cil. One hospitalized patient had an incidental, asymptomatic, positive SARS-CoV 2 by PCR. The median days from Tix-Cil administration to non-COVID-19-related hospitalization and death were 30 (IQR 17, 55) and 53 (IQR 18, 91), respectively.

Conclusion: Tix-Cil provides protection against COVID-19 complications in immunocompromised patients with suboptimal immune responses to vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19; Immunocompromised host; Tixagevimab–cilgavimab.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants