Successful treatment of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus sotrovimab in four immunocompromised patients

Abstract

Immunocompromised patients with leukemia/lymphoma often have a suboptimal response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and, if infected, can develop a persistent infection.SARS-CoV-2 PCR was performed on nasopharingeal swabs and serum IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike glycoprotein antibodies were measured during persistence of infection. Treatment with a combination of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus sotrovimab led to viral clearance in three patients with leukaemia or lymphoma with persistent SARS-CoV-2 and negative SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests. No standardized treatments for persistent infection with SARS-CoV-2 infection are available. We have reported the viral clearance in two immunocompromised patients treated with antiviral drug nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and monoclonal antibody sotrovimab. We suggest that this strategy should be tested in clinical trials to find the right strategy for a clinical problem with public health implications to SARS-CoV-2 evolution and immune escape in these sub-set of patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antivirals; leukemia; lymphoma; monoclonal antibodies.