COVID-19 treatment options for cancer patients: 7 things to know

Last updated on Jan. 27, 2022.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, so little was known about the SARS-CoV-2 virus that all anyone could really do was treat the symptoms.

Today, however, several options are available to treat COVID-19 and fight the underlying virus that causes it. But which ones are best for cancer patients? How do they work? And are some more effective than others?

We sat down with Chief Infection Control Officer Roy Chemaly, M.D., to learn more. Here’s what he wants cancer patients and their caregivers to know.

What treatments are available for cancer patients right now that specifically target COVID-19?

For hospitalized cancer patients with COVID-19 infections, the main drug we use is called remdesivir (Veklury). It’s an antiviral that’s administered through an IV.

Very ill or high-risk patients could receive remdesivir for up to 10 days. But most will receive it between 5 and 10. Patients who have minimal symptoms and are not at high risk for severe illness could receive it for as few as 3 days. But they would still benefit from it. Remdesivir has been shown to be effective against the coronavirus in many studies, and we’ve had access to it for more than a year.

Steroids have also proven beneficial to some hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who require high levels of oxygen or are on breathing machines. Though they don’t specifically target the virus, steroids can block or reduce the inflammatory responses of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs.

What about COVID-positive cancer patients who aren’t hospitalized?

For outpatients with COVID-19, we may use two oral drugs to help them avoid being hospitalized. They are:

• molnupiravir (from Merck)
• Paxlovid (from Pfizer)

Both are antiviral pills that are taken by mouth, but supplies are very limited.

How do these antiviral medications work?

They all work slightly differently to prevent the virus from replicating itself. Some bind to a specific viral enzyme (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) and terminate RNA transcription prematurely (remdesivir). Some introduce errors into the SARS-CoV-2 virus’ genetic code (molnupiravir). And some inhibit the function of a particular SARS CoV-2 protein (paxlovid).

What about monoclonal antibodies? How do those work? And are they effective against COVID-19?

Three different monoclonal antibodies have been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to try to prevent hospitalization. They are:

• bamlanivimab and etesevimab (made by Eli Lilly)
• casirivimab and imdevimab (made by Regeneron)
• sotrovimab (made by GlaxoSmithKline/Vir)

These monoclonal antibodies target the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, and are designed to block the virus’ ability to attach to and enter human cells.

Under EUA rules, monoclonal antibodies cannot be used in hospitalized patients or patients who require oxygen. They can only be used in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of progression to more severe illness.

Unfortunately, only one of these monoclonal antibodies, sotrovimab, has proven somewhat effective against the omicron variant, and that was in a lab. It’s also in very short supply. The other two were helpful against the delta variant. But there have been so many changes in the spike proteins that they’re not as effective against omicron, so the FDA has now limited their use to only when a patient is likely to have a variant that responds to these treatments.

So, the only monoclonal antibody that we can use right now to treat COVID-19 and prevent hospitalization is sotrovimab. And that’s only when it’s available.

Is there anything available that can prevent cancer patients from contracting COVID-19?

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is still the best way to prevent infection. But for patients who are too sick to get vaccinated or too immunocompromised to benefit much from vaccination, there may be an alternative.

AstraZeneca manufactures some monoclonal antibodies now called Evusheld, which is a combination of cilgavimab and tixagevimab. It has demonstrated some limited efficacy against omicron, and was granted EUA status by the FDA, so it could be used for “pre-exposure” in some high-risk cancer patients.

It’s available right now, but also in limited quantities, so again, patients must meet very specific criteria to qualify for it.

How can patients obtain these medications?

Many of these drugs are in very short supply right now, and they have very strict eligibility guidelines.

At a bare minimum, for instance, to qualify for Pfizer’s paxlovid, cancer patients must:

• have a confirmed case of COVID-19
• have only a mild to moderate infection
• be at high-risk of being hospitalized
• have had symptoms for no longer than 5 days
• be age 12 or older
• weigh at least 40 kg (88 lbs.)

To possibly qualify for Merck’s molnupiravir, cancer patients must:

• have a confirmed case of COVID-19
• have only a mild to moderate infection
• be at high-risk of being hospitalized
• have had symptoms for no more than 5 days
• be age 18 or older
• not be pregnant or trying to conceive
• have no other drug available

So, while there are options, they might not be available to you specifically, or they may not be available yet — either here at MD Anderson or anywhere else. Only certain pharmacies will have them, and physicians must answer many questions about their patients before they can be released. So, it’s very important to stay flexible if you approach your doctor about one.

Anything else cancer patients should know about possible COVID-19 treatments?

If you’re currently receiving chemotherapy as a part of your cancer treatment, it could be delayed if you’re very sick with COVID-19, especially if you have pneumonia.

Also, every drug has potential side effects. And since one of these antiviral medications is a combination of two agents (Paxlovid), the chances of them interacting with other drugs you’re taking are higher.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.