A Canadian Perspective: Monoclonal Antibodies for Pre- and Post-Exposure Protection from COVID-19 in Vulnerable Patients with Hematological Malignancies

Curr Oncol. 2022 May 31;29(6):3940-3949. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29060315.

Abstract

Patients with hematological malignancies have an increased risk of serious outcomes following COVID-19 infection, suggesting broader protection is needed beyond vaccination. Monoclonal antibodies such as sotrovimab, casirivimab-imdevimab, and bamlanivimab have provided valuable options for the treatment of COVID-19 disease. More recently, monoclonal antibodies have been examined for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. The monoclonal antibody combination, tixagevimab-cilgavimab, was recently approved by Health Canada as pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 in individuals who are immunocompromised or where vaccination is not recommended. Prophylactic approaches such as the use of tixagevimab-cilgavimab, in addition to COVID-19 vaccination, may provide additional protection for patients with hematological malignancies who are at greater risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; hematology; malignancy.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • Canada
  • Hematologic Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • tixagevimab
  • cilgavimab
  • sotrovimab
  • imdevimab
  • bamlanivimab
  • casirivimab

Grants and funding

The development of this paper was funded by AstraZeneca Canada.