Covid-19: FDA authorises pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid

• Published in: BMJ (Online) Vol. 378; p. o1695
• Main Author: Tanne, Janice Hopkins
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Medical Journal Publishing Group 08.07.2022; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Drug stores; Licenses; News; Patients; Pharmacists; Ritonavir; United States > US
• ISSN: 1756-1833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o1695

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorised licensed pharmacists to prescribe Pfizer’s oral antiviral drug Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) to eligible patients who have tested positive for covid-19, subject to some limitations.1 The FDA’s action on 6 July, a revision of the emergency use authorisation, will make the drug more widely available to people with covid-19, particularly in rural and poor areas. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said, “The FDA recognises the important role pharmacists have played and continue to play in this pandemic. Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorising state licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment for some patients who are eligible to receive this drug for treatment of covid-19.” President Jack Resneck Jr said, “While most covid-19 positive patients will benefit from Paxlovid, it is not for everyone and prescribing it requires knowledge of a patient’s medical history, as well as clinical monitoring for side effects and follow-up care to determine whether a patient is improving—requirements far beyond the pharmacist’s scope and training.”