Originally published by our sister publication Infectious Disease Special Edition
By Ethan Covey
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released updated COVID-19 treatment guidelines focused on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis in immunocompromised patients (Clin Infect Dis 2024;78[7]:e250-e349).
The recommendation, which was released on Aug. 12, 2024, concerns pemivibart (Pemgarda, Invivyd), the only FDA-authorized pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19, which was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) in March for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Immunocompromised people are at a greater risk for hospitalization, mechanical ventilation or death because of COVID-19. As such, the guideline panel suggested that pemivibart be administered to patients 12 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised when dominant COVID-19 variants in the patient’s region are susceptible to the agent. Current evidence suggests pemivibart protects against severe COVID-19 caused by omicron subvariants. However, the FDA updated the EUA for pemivibart to limit its use if subvariants become less susceptible.
“Healthcare professionals need every tool available to protect their most vulnerable patients from the very real risks COVID-19 continues to pose,” said Adarsh Bhimraj, MD, FIDSA, the director of Infectious Diseases Education and Fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital, and lead author of the guidelines. “IDSA’s guideline update will help clinicians make the right decisions for their patients’ health and well-being.”
Individuals who have had recent hematopoietic stem cell or organ transplants, those undergoing cancer treatment, and people living with advanced HIV infection may particularly benefit from pemivibart pre-exposure prophylaxis, the guidelines noted.
The authors of the guidelines acknowledged that the effectiveness of pemivibart may change as new COVID-19 variants emerge, and stated that they will be closely monitoring any such developments.
Dr. Bhimraj reported no relevant financial disclosures.
