Reviewed by Dr. Michael Payne, MD; London Health Sciences Centre
Multiple COVID-19 monoclonal therapeutic agents have been limited by emergence of new variants, with a resultant decreased efficacy. In this retrospective cohort study of 3607 Mayo Health care network patients, bebtelovimab was compared to nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Bebtelovimab was used more commonly among higher risk patients (Older age, immunocompromised, comorbidities). Despite its use in higher risk patients, the rate of progression to severe disease after bebtelovimab (1.4%) was not significantly different from that for nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment (1.2%). The findings support the use of bebtelovimab for treatment of COVID-19 during the current Omicron variant predominance dominated by BA.2 and subvariants (Including BA.4 and BA.5). The emergence of BQ.1 and XBB variants may limit future effectiveness and will need to be monitored.
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