Real-World Experience of Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab (Evusheld) in Rheumatologic Patients on Rituximab

Background/ObjectiveAlthough vaccination is the primary strategy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), rheumatologic patients on B-cell depleting agent rituximab may have a suboptimal response. Tixagevimab and cilgavimab (Evusheld) could be administered under Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization as pre-exposure prophylaxis.MethodsA cohort study of rheumatologic patients on rituximab therapy who received Evusheld was followed longitudinally. Adverse events were monitored.ResultsForty-three patients received Evusheld, with diagnoses including rheumatoid arthritis, ANCA vasculitis, immune-mediated myositis, Sjogren disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Average time to follow-up was 100 +/- 33 days. One patient experienced symptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by home antigen test twice. A total of 97.8% of patients during follow-up did not contract acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the same time, 32,074 new local cases were reported with a local cumulative SARS-CoV-2 incidence rate of 4.32%. Adverse events included myalgia, flu-like symptoms, fevers, injection site pain, or headache. No serious adverse events, anaphylaxis, or cardiac events occurred.ConclusionsEvusheld demonstrated effectiveness in preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a real-world cohort of rheumatologic patients on rituximab therapy. Administration of Evusheld may be considered as part of a multilayered approach to risk mitigation in this high-risk population as pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Automated summary

This article reports a longitudinal study on rheumatologic patients receiving rituximab therapy who were administered Evusheld as a preventive measure, and it was confirmed that Evusheld is effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study suggests that using Evusheld as part of a preventive intervention is feasible for high-risk populations.