Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of Human Hyperimmune Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Adult Syrian Hamsters

Stauft, Charles B; Tegenge, Million; Khurana, Surender; Lee, Youri; Selvaraj, Prabhuanand; Golding, Hana; Wang, Tony; Golding, Basil

BACKGROUND: Following the failure of antibody therapies in treating COVID-19 hospitalized patients we investigated the impact of viral replication on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and efficacy of a hyperimmune SARS-CoV-2 Immune Globulin (CoVIG) product in treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection using the adult Syrian hamster model. METHODS: The CoVIG was manufactured from plasma donors who had recovered from COVID-19. The dose used (400 mg/kg) was based on the dose given in clinical trials to hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Hamsters were given a single dose of CoVIG two days after challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (isolate NY/PV08410/2020), followed by sampling of blood, nasal, tracheal and lung tissues at different time points. The blood samples were assayed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike binding and used to calculate PK parameters. Nasal washes, trachea, and lung samples were assayed for viral replication by PCR (sgRNA). RESULTS: CoVIG-treated hamsters showed a reduction in viral replication in the lower respiratory tract, but minimally in the upper respiratory tract, following challenge with SARS-CoV-2. Challenge with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in altered PK parameters proportionate to viral replication, resulting in decreased area under the curve (AUC), accelerated clearance and shorter half-life of CoVIG. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that in the presence of actively replicating SARS-CoV-2 virus, PK parameters are altered and should trigger an adjustment in dosing of CoVIG.