Pre-exposure prophylaxis with tixagevimab/cilgavimab (AZD7442) prevents severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation during the Omicron wave: a multicentric retrospective study of SFGM-TC

Since the emergence of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, though considered less virulent, hospitalization and death rates among immunocompromised patients remain high, especially for poor responders to vaccination. We conducted a retrospective multicentric study to evaluate pre-exposure prophylaxis with AZD7442 (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) for preventing COVID-19 in adult allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients. Among the 161 patients of our cohort, 22 (14%) contracted COVID-19 after a median follow-up of 105 days, but no severe form was observed. Only one major adverse event was reported: an acute coronary syndrome, resolved without sequelae. Pending randomized controlled trial results, our data support the use of AZD7442 as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 during Omicron wave in allo-HSCT patients who failed to develop humoral immunity to vaccination, to prevent severe and potentially lethal forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13045-022-01387-0.