# Efficacy of Combination of Antiviral Therapy With Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies for Recurrent Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia in Patients With Lymphoma

## TL;DR

Combining antiviral drugs with neutralizing antibodies helped prevent recurring SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in lymphoma patients with low B cells.

## Contribution

Shows efficacy of antiviral plus neutralizing antibody treatment in lymphoma patients with B cell depletion.

## Key findings

- Five lymphoma patients with B cell depletion received tix-cil and antiviral therapy.
- None of the patients experienced reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia during 6 months.
- Patients had low lymphocyte counts and lacked SARS-CoV-2 antibodies prior to treatment.

## Abstract

Despite the potential of neutralizing antibodies in the management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), clinical research on its efficacy in Chinese patients remains limited. This study is aimed at investigating the therapeutic effect of combination of antiviral therapy with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for recurrent persistent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in patients with lymphoma complicated by B cell depletion. A prospective study was conducted on Chinese patients who were treated with antiviral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir therapy and the neutralizing antibody tixagevimab–cilgavimab (tix-cil). The primary outcome was the rate of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Five patients with lymphoma experienced recurrent SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and received tix-cil treatment. All patients had a history of CD20 monoclonal antibody use within the year preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection, and two patients also had a history of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor use. These patients had notably low lymphocyte counts and exhibited near depletion of B cells. All five patients tested negative for serum SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies. None of the patients developed reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia after antiviral and tix-cil treatment during the 6-month follow-up period. In conclusion, the administration of antiviral and SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies showed encouraging therapeutic efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in patients with lymphoma complicated by B cell depletion, along with the potential preventive effect of neutralizing antibodies for up to 6 months.