Antibodies from convalescent plasma promote SARS-CoV-2 clearance in individuals with and without endogenous antibody response

BACKGROUND: Neutralizing antibodies are considered a key correlate of protection by current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The manner in which human infections respond to therapeutic SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, including convalescent plasma therapy, remains to be fully elucidate. METHODS: We conducted a proof-of-principle study of convalescent plasma therapy based on a phase I trial in 30 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a median interval between onset of symptoms and first transfusion of 9 days (IQR, 7-11.8 days). Comprehensive longitudinal monitoring of the virological, serological, and disease status of recipients allowed deciphering of parameters on which plasma therapy efficacy depends. RESULTS: In this trial, convalescent plasma therapy was safe as evidenced by the absence of transfusion-related adverse events and low mortality (3.3%). Treatment with highly neutralizing plasma was significantly associated with faster virus clearance, as demonstrated by Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = 0.034) and confirmed in a parametric survival model including viral load and comorbidity (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-8.1; P = 0.026). The onset of endogenous neutralization affected viral clearance, but even after adjustment for their pretransfusion endogenous neutralization status, recipients benefitted from plasma therapy with high neutralizing antibodies (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.1-11; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate a clear impact of exogenous antibody therapy on the rapid clearance of viremia before and after onset of the endogenous neutralizing response, and point beyond antibody-based interventions to critical laboratory parameters for improved evaluation of current and future SARS-CoV-2 therapies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04869072. FUNDING: This study was funded via an Innovation Pool project by the University Hospital Zurich; the Swiss Red Cross Gluckskette Corona Funding; Pandemiefonds of the UZH Foundation; and the Clinical Research Priority Program Comprehensive Genomic Pathogen Detection of the University of Zurich.

Automated summary

This study provides preliminary evidence that treatment with convalescent plasma therapy, particularly with highly neutralizing plasma, is associated with faster clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.