Full Papers
Tixagevimab-cilgavimab for the prevention of COVID-19: real-world experience in patients with rheumatic diseases receiving rituximab
C.C. Mok1, M.H. Leung2, K.M. Chan3, K.Y. Ying4, T.K. Ho5, W.N. Lao6, K.L. Lee7, H. So8, W.L. Ng9, L.Y. Ho10, K.Y. Young11, C.H. To12
- Department of Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China. ccmok2005@yahoo.com
- Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Pamela Youde Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Tai Po Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Caritas Medical Center, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
- Department of Medicine, Pok Oi Hospital, Hong Kong (SAR), China.
CER18251
2025 Vol.43, N°5
PI 0917, PF 0923
Full Papers
PMID: 39977029 [PubMed]
Received: 22/10/2024
Accepted : 03/02/2025
In Press: 20/02/2025
Published: 08/05/2025
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To study the safety and efficacy of tixagevimab-cilgavimab (TIX-CIL) in reducing COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases receiving rituximab.
METHODS:
Patients with rheumatic diseases who were receiving rituximab for ≥12 months were invited for an injection of TIX-CIL (300 mg/300 mg) between November and December 2022. The occurrence of SARS-CoV2 infection in the subsequent 6 months was compared between those who did or did not receive TIX-CIL, adjusting for demographic characteristics, previous SAR2-CoV2 infection, COVID-19 vaccination and other factors by multivariate analyses.
RESULTS:
A total of 330 patients were studied: 142 received TIX-CIL (age 55.8 ±14.7 years, 80% women) and 188 refused TIX-CIL (age 54.3 ±14.3 years; 84% women). There were fewer SLE patients in the TIX-CIL group (27% vs. 39%; p=0.02) and patients in this group had received a significantly greater number of COVID-19 vaccine doses (2.9 ±0.9 vs. 2.6±1.2; p=0.02). At month 3 post-injection, significantly fewer patients who received TIX-CIL developed COVID-19 (7.7% vs. 19.1%; p=0.003). However, the incidence of COVID-19 at month 6 was not significantly lower in the TIX-CIL group (23.2% vs. 27.2%; p=0.42). Severe COVID-19 developed in 11(3.3%) patients by month 6 and there was no difference between the two groups. Logistic regression revealed that TIX-CIL injection (OR 0.35[0.17–0.73]), female sex (OR 0.40[0.18–0.87]) and previous COVID-19 (OR 0.26[0.12–0.59]) were independent factors protective against COVID-19 at month 3. Adverse events to TIX-CIL were exclusively mild and self-limiting, with musculoskeletal pain, headache and dizziness being the most common.
CONCLUSIONS:
TIX-CIL was well tolerated and effective in reducing the incidence of COVID-19 in the subsequent 3 months.
