AUTHORIZED USE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of the unapproved product PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORIZED USE
PAXLOVID may be prescribed for an individual patient by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants that are licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs.
PAXLOVID may also be prescribed for an individual patient by a state-licensed pharmacist under the following conditions:
The state-licensed pharmacist should refer an individual patient for clinical evaluation (e.g., telehealth, in-person visit) with a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs, if any of the following apply:
PAXLOVID is not approved for any use, including for use for the treatment of COVID-19.
PAXLOVID is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of PAXLOVID under 564(b)(1) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
PAXLOVID™ (nirmatrelvir tablets; ritonavir tablets) has not been approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID‑19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID‑19, including hospitalization or death.
The emergency use of PAXLOVID is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is a mechanism to facilitate the availability and use of medical countermeasures during public health emergencies, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Under an EUA, the FDA may allow the use of unapproved medical products, or unapproved uses of approved medical products in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions when certain statutory criteria have been met, including that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. Taking into consideration input from the FDA, manufacturers decide whether and when to submit an EUA request to the FDA. Once submitted, the FDA will evaluate an emergency use authorization request and determine whether the relevant statutory criteria are met, taking into account the totality of the scientific evidence that is available to the FDA.
Click here to view the FDA letter granting EUA of PAXLOVID. For more information about the EUA of PAXLOVID, see Section 1: Emergency Use Authorization of the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
The FDA has issued an EUA for the emergency use of the unapproved product PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID‑19, including hospitalization or death.
Limitations of Authorized Use
PAXLOVID may be prescribed for an individual patient by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants that are licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs.
PAXLOVID may also be prescribed for an individual patient by a state-licensed pharmacist under the following conditions:
The state-licensed pharmacist should refer an individual patient for clinical evaluation (e.g., telehealth, in-person visit) with a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs, if any of the following apply:
PAXLOVID is not approved for any use, including for use for the treatment of COVID-19.
PAXLOVID is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of PAXLOVID under section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
For more information about who can be treated with PAXLOVID under EUA, see Section 1: Emergency Use Authorization of the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
The U.S. FDA has issued an EUA for the emergency use of the unapproved product PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
PAXLOVID is not authorized for use in pediatric patients younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 40 kg. The safety and effectiveness of PAXLOVID have not been established in pediatric patients. The authorized adult dosing regimen is expected to result in comparable serum exposures of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir in patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg as observed in adults, and adults with similar body weight were included in the trial EPIC-HR.
PAXLOVID is nirmatrelvir tablets copackaged with ritonavir tablets. Nirmatrelvir is a SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitor, and ritonavir is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor and CYP3A inhibitor.
For more information on PAXLOVID, see Section 11: Description in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
Nirmatrelvir is a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), also referred to as 3C-like protease (3CLpro) or nsp5 protease. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro renders it incapable of processing polyprotein precursors, preventing viral replication. Nirmatrelvir inhibited the activity of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Mpro in a biochemical assay with a Ki value of 3.1 nM and an IC50 value of 19.2 nM. Nirmatrelvir was found to bind directly to the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro active site by X-ray crystallography.
Ritonavir is an HIV-1 protease inhibitor but is not active against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Ritonavir inhibits the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of nirmatrelvir, resulting in increased plasma concentrations of nirmatrelvir.
For more information about how PAXLOVID works, see Section 12: Clinical Pharmacology in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
The prescribing healthcare provider and/or the provider’s designee is/are responsible for mandatory reporting of all serious adverse events and medication errors potentially related to PAXLOVID within 7 calendar days from the healthcare provider’s awareness of the event, using FDA Form 3500 (for information on how to access this form, see below).
Serious adverse events are defined as:
Submit adverse event and medication error reports, using Form 3500, to FDA MedWatch using one of the following methods:
In addition, please provide a copy of all FDA MedWatch forms to:
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For more information on what the FDA recommends to include in your FDA Form 3500 report, see Section 6.4: Required Reporting for Serious Adverse Events and Medication Errors in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
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Samples/starters are not available. Please contact your state health authority to request COVID-19 treatment allocations and/or visit the U.S. Government’s Health Partner Ordering Portal (HPOP) for requesting and ordering COVID-19 treatment here.*
*This link will take you to a website that is owned and operated by the Department of Health and Human Services. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of this site.
The dosage for PAXLOVID is 300 mg nirmatrelvir (two 150-mg tablets) with 100 mg ritonavir (one 100-mg tablet) with all 3 tablets taken together orally twice daily for 5 days. Prescriptions should specify the numeric dose of each active ingredient within PAXLOVID. Completion of the full 5-day treatment course and continued isolation in accordance with public health recommendations are important to maximize viral clearance and minimize transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Important Dosing Information for Patients with Renal Impairment
No dosage adjustment is needed in patients with mild renal impairment (eGFR ≥60 to <90 mL/min). In patients with moderate renal impairment (eGFR ≥30 to <60 mL/min), the dosage of PAXLOVID is 150 mg nirmatrelvir and 100 mg ritonavir twice daily for 5 days. Prescriptions should specify the numeric dose of each active ingredient within PAXLOVID. Healthcare providers should counsel patients about renal dosing instructions.
PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min) until more data are available; the appropriate dosage for patients with severe renal impairment has not been determined.
For important PAXLOVID dispensing information for patients with moderate renal impairment, refer Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here. Also see the Pharmacist Instruction Sheet for Patients with Moderate Renal Impairment and the Important Prescribing & Dispensing Letter to Healthcare Professionals (Aug. 2022) for more information.
Use in Patients with Hepatic Impairment
No dosage adjustment is needed in patients with mild (Child-Pugh Class A) or moderate (Child-Pugh Class B) hepatic impairment. No pharmacokinetic or safety data are available regarding the use of nirmatrelvir or ritonavir in subjects with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C); therefore, PAXLOVID is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Important Drug Interactions with PAXLOVID
No dosage adjustment is required when coadministered with other products containing ritonavir or cobicistat.
Patients on ritonavir- or cobicistat-containing HIV or HCV regimens should continue their treatment as indicated.
Refer to other sections of the Fact Sheet for important drug interactions with PAXLOVID. Consider the potential for drug interactions prior to and during PAXLOVID therapy and review concomitant medications during PAXLOVID therapy.
For more information about product dosage, see Section 2: Dosage and Administration in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
The 5-day treatment course of PAXLOVID should be initiated as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID‑19 has been made and within 5 days of symptom onset.
For more information about product dosage, see Section 2: Dosage and Administration in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
Patients can take any available FDA-authorized COVID-19 viral test (eg, RT-PCR, rapid antigen, etc) to determine if they may have COVID-19. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a viral test checks specimens from a patient’s nose or mouth and can be performed in a laboratory, at a testing site, at home, or anywhere else.
For more information on COVID-19 testing, see the CDC's "COVID-19 Testing: What You Need to Know" web page.*
*This link will take you to a web page that is owned and operated by the CDC. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of this site.
Two important factors to consider are Age and Race & Ethnicity. Studies have shown that COVID-19 does not affect all populations equally. Age is the strongest risk factor for progressing to severe COVID-19. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths due to multiple factors, including barriers to accessing health care.
Underlying medical conditions associated with high risk for severe COVID-19 include:
Higher risk (conclusive):
*Complete list of disabilities from CDC's systematic review process can be found here.†
†This link will take you to a website that is owned and operated by the CDC. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of this site.
In addition to specifying the numeric dose of each active ingredient within PAXLOVID, here are other common details to include*:
For patients with moderate renal impairment, the numeric dose will be 1 nirmatrelvir 150-mg tablet and 1 ritonavir 100-mg tablet together twice daily with or without food for 5 days.
Please fill prescription by [insert date].
[Additional notes to pharmacy]
Your state, institutional, or local requirements may also require you to write the patient's ethnicity and/or blood labs for renally impaired patients.
Providers should also specify that completion of the full 5-day treatment course and continued isolation in accordance with public health recommendations are important to maximize viral clearance and minimize transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
*For additional screening information, consult the FDA’s PAXLOVID Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist Tool for Prescribers‡ or a similar resource from your local public health authority.
†Consult the CDC‡ for the latest information on factors that put patients at high risk for progression to severe COVID‑19.
‡These links will take you to websites that are owned and operated by the FDA and CDC. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of these sites.
For important information related to drug interactions and dosing for patients with renal impairment, refer to the Dosing & Prescribing Reference Guide.
There are no available human data on the use of nirmatrelvir during pregnancy to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Published observational studies on ritonavir use in pregnant women have not identified an increase in the risk of major birth defects. Published studies with ritonavir are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk of miscarriage. There are maternal and fetal risks associated with untreated COVID-19 in pregnancy.
For more information on the use of PAXLOVID during pregnancy, see Section 8.1: Pregnancy of the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
To find COVID-19 treatments, please use the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator.* Alternatively, HHS has launched the Test-to-Treat initiative* to help appropriate patients access COVID-19 testing and treatment options in one location. Patients can find a location near them here* or call 1-800-232-0233.
*These links will take you to websites that are owned and operated by HHS. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of these sites.
As part of the Emergency Use Authorization, the U.S. Government has purchased PAXLOVID from Pfizer and is making it available to patients at no charge. Other administrative fees may apply.
PAXLOVID is nirmatrelvir tablets copackaged with ritonavir tablets. It is supplied in 2 different Dose Packs (Standard Dose and Renal Dose).
Nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets are supplied in separate cavities within the same child-resistant blister card.
The standard dose is for patients with normal renal function or mild renal impairment (eGFR ≥60 to <90 mL/min).
Each carton of PAXLOVID contains 30 tablets in 5 daily-dose blister cards.
Each daily blister card contains 4 nirmatrelvir tablets (150 mg each) and 2 ritonavir tablets (100 mg each) and indicates which tablets need to be taken in the morning and evening.
The renal dose is for patients with moderate renal impairment. PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min) until more data are available. Each carton contains 20 tablets divided in 5 daily-dose blister cards. Each blister card contains 2 nirmatrelvir tablets (150 mg each) and 2 ritonavir tablets (100 mg each).
Refer to the Dosing & Prescribing Reference Guide for more information.
For more information about how PAXLOVID is supplied, see Section 16: How Supplied/Storage and Handling here or the Pharmacist Instruction Sheet.
Per the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers:
Pharmacists should refer to the Pharmacist Instruction Sheet for Patients with Moderate Renal Impairment for information on how to adjust the dosage of PAXLOVID for patients with moderate renal impairment, as well as guidelines on how to dispose of unused nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets.
Healthcare providers can also refer to the Important Prescribing & Dispensing Letter to Healthcare Professionals (Aug. 2022) and the Dosing & Prescribing Reference Guide for information about the treatment of renally impaired patients with PAXLOVID.
PAXLOVID consists of 2 medicines: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Nirmatrelvir must be coadministered with ritonavir. Failure to correctly coadminster nirmatrelvir with ritonavir may result in plasma levels of nirmatrelvir that are insufficient to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. Patients should take 2 tablets of nirmatrelvir (150 mg each) with 1 tablet of ritonavir (100 mg) by mouth twice daily (in the morning and in the evening) for 5 days. For each dose, all 3 tablets should be taken at the same time.
To ensure appropriate dosing in patients with moderate renal impairment, reduce the dosage of PAXLOVID to 150 mg nirmatrelvir and 100 mg ritonavir twice daily for 5 days. Providers should counsel patients about renal dosing instructions. Refer to the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. Also see the Important Prescribing & Dispensing Letter to Healthcare Professionals (Aug. 2022) for more information about the treatment of renally impaired patients with PAXLOVID.
For more information on how to take PAXLOVID, patients can refer to the Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers here.
Missed dose: If the patient misses a dose of PAXLOVID within 8 hours of the time it is usually taken, the patient should take it as soon as possible and resume the normal dosing schedule. If the patient misses a dose by more than 8 hours, the patient should not take the missed dose and instead take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. The patient should not double the dose to make up for a missed dose.
Overdose: If patients overdose on PAXLOVID, they should call their prescribing healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. Treatment of overdose with PAXLOVID should consist of general supportive measures including monitoring of vital signs and observation of the clinical status of the patient. There is no specific antidote for overdose with PAXLOVID.
For more information on product dosage, see Section 2: Dosage and Administration and Section 10: Overdosage in the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers here.
PAXLOVID may be prescribed for an individual patient by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants that are licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs.
PAXLOVID may also be prescribed for an individual patient by a state-licensed pharmacist under the following conditions:
The state-licensed pharmacist should refer an individual patient for clinical evaluation (eg, telehealth, in-person visit) with a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs, if any of the following apply:
For medical questions related to PAXLOVID, you can visit pfizermedicalinformation.com or call Medical Information at 1-800-438-1985.
PAXLOVID is contraindicated in/with:
For a list of clinically significant drug interactions, including contraindicated drugs, refer to Section 7, Table 1: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions here.
PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir copackaged with ritonavir) is a strong inhibitor of CYP3A and may increase plasma concentrations of drugs that are primarily metabolized by CYP3A. Coadministration of PAXLOVID with drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events is contraindicated. Coadministration with other CYP3A substrates may require a dose adjustment or additional monitoring as shown in Table 1.
Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir are CYP3A substrates; therefore, drugs that induce CYP3A may decrease nirmatrelvir and ritonavir plasma concentrations and reduce PAXLOVID therapeutic effect.
For a list of clinically significant drug interactions, including contraindicated drugs, refer to Section 7, Table 1: Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions here.
Authentic PAXLOVID from Pfizer Inc., will include the Pfizer name on the label and will be packaged in 5 aluminum push-through blister cards. Individual doses are not for sale. PAXLOVID will be packaged in a rectangular carton. The carton has a colorless, glossy coating that contains a repeated pattern of the Pfizer name and logo all over, and these repeating features are seen in a contrasting matte finish.
PAXLOVID consists of tablets for a 5-day oral treatment regimen, with morning and evening doses.
Nirmatrelvir tablets are supplied as oval, pink, immediate-release, film-coated tablets with “PFE” on one side and “3CL” on the other side. Each tablet contains 150 mg of nirmatrelvir. Ritonavir tablets are supplied as white, film-coated, ovaloid tablets with the "" logo and the code NK, or white to off-white, capsule‑shaped, film‑coated tablets with H on the front and R9 on the back. Each tablet contains 100 mg of ritonavir.
Patients with moderate renal impairment will receive a carton that has been opened and modified by the pharmacist to indicate a dose adjustment. To view PAXLOVID dispensing information for patients with moderate renal impairment, see the Fact sheet for Healthcare Providers here. Also see the Pharmacist Instruction Sheet for Patients with Moderate Renal Impairment and the Important Prescribing & Dispensing Letter to Healthcare Professionals (Aug. 2022) for more information.
See more information about product authenticity here.
Post-treatment increases in SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding levels (ie, viral RNA rebound) in nasopharyngeal samples were observed on Day 10 and/or Day 14 in a subset of PAXLOVID and placebo recipients in EPIC-HR, irrespective of COVID-19 symptoms. The frequency of detection of post-treatment viral RNA rebound varied according to analysis parameters but was generally similar among PAXLOVID and placebo recipients, regardless of the rebound definition used. A similar or smaller percentage of placebo recipients compared to PAXLOVID recipients had nasopharyngeal viral RNA results < lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) at all study time points in both the treatment and post-treatment periods.
Post-treatment viral RNA rebound was not associated with the primary clinical outcome of COVID-19–related hospitalization or death from any cause through Day 28 following the single 5-day course of PAXLOVID treatment. Post-treatment viral RNA rebound also was not associated with drug resistance as measured by Mpro sequencing. The clinical relevance of post-treatment increases in viral RNA following PAXLOVID or placebo treatment is unknown.
PAXLOVID must be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and supplied by a government-approved pharmacy or medical facility.
Authentic PAXLOVID, from Pfizer Inc., may include the Pfizer name on the label and will be packaged in 5 aluminum push-through blister cards. Individual doses are not for sale. PAXLOVID will be packaged in a rectangular carton. The carton has a colorless, glossy coating that contains a repeated pattern of the Pfizer name and logo all over, and these repeating features are seen in a contrasting matte finish.
PAXLOVID consists of tablets for a 5-day oral treatment regimen, with morning and evening doses.
Patients with moderate renal impairment may receive a carton that has been opened and modified by the pharmacist to indicate a dose adjustment. To view PAXLOVID dispensing information for patients with moderate renal impairment, see the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. Also see the Pharmacist Instruction Sheet for Patients with Moderate Renal Impairment and the Important Prescribing & Dispensing Letter to Healthcare Professionals (Aug. 2022).
Tablet |
Embossed Text |
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nirmatrelvir |
Front: 3CL | Back: PFE |
ritonavir, manufactured by AbbVie |
Front: |
ritonavir, manufactured by Hetero |
Front: H | Back: R9 |
Pfizer is committed to patient safety and ensuring that people have accurate information about the investigational drug PAXLOVID, including how it is accessed and administered. We are actively monitoring for fraudulent offers of illegitimate PAXLOVID to protect patients from products that might be dangerous and lead to serious and life-threatening harm.
If you suspect the product you have received may be counterfeit, contact us at 1-800-438-1985 or visit www.pfizersafetyreporting.com.
References:
References:
PAXLOVID Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. Pfizer Inc.; September 26, 2022.
Contact One of the Following Groups
For Medical Information visit www.pfizermedicalinformation.com or call 1‑800‑438‑1985
For General Product Inquiries call 1‑877‑C19PACK (1‑877‑219‑7225)
This site is intended only for U.S. healthcare professionals. The products discussed in this site may have different product labeling in different countries. The information provided is for educational purposes only.
AUTHORIZED USE
AUTHORIZED USE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the emergency use of the unapproved product PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
LIMITATIONS OF AUTHORIZED USE
PAXLOVID is not authorized for use as pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of
COVID-19
PAXLOVID is not authorized for use for longer than 5 consecutive days
PAXLOVID may be prescribed for an individual patient by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants that are licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs.
PAXLOVID may also be prescribed for an individual patient by a state-licensed pharmacist under the following conditions:
The state-licensed pharmacist should refer an individual patient for clinical evaluation (e.g., telehealth, in-person visit) with a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs, if any of the following apply:
PAXLOVID is not approved for any use, including for use for the treatment of COVID-19.
PAXLOVID is authorized only for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of PAXLOVID under 564(b)(1) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner.
IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
PAXLOVID is contraindicated in patients with a history of clinically significant hypersensitivity reactions (eg, toxic epidermal necrolysis [TEN] or Stevens-Johnson syndrome) to its active ingredients (nirmatrelvir or ritonavir) or any other components of the product.
Drugs listed in this section are a guide and not considered a comprehensive list of all drugs that may be contraindicated with PAXLOVID. The healthcare provider should consult other appropriate resources such as the prescribing information for the interacting drug for comprehensive information on dosing or monitoring with concomitant use of a strong CYP3A inhibitor such as ritonavir.
PAXLOVID is contraindicated with drugs that are highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening reactions:
PAXLOVID is contraindicated with drugs that are potent CYP3A inducers where significantly reduced nirmatrelvir or ritonavir plasma concentrations may be associated with the potential for loss of virologic response and possible resistance. PAXLOVID cannot be started immediately after discontinuation of any of the following medications due to the delayed offset of the recently discontinued CYP3A inducer:
There are limited clinical data available for PAXLOVID. Serious and unexpected adverse events may occur that have not been previously reported with PAXLOVID use.
Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions Due to Drug Interactions: Initiation of PAXLOVID, a CYP3A inhibitor, in patients receiving medications metabolized by CYP3A or initiation of medications metabolized by CYP3A in patients already receiving PAXLOVID, may increase plasma concentrations of medications metabolized by CYP3A. Initiation of medications that inhibit or induce CYP3A may increase or decrease concentrations of PAXLOVID, respectively. These interactions may lead to:
Consult Table 1 of the Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers for clinically significant drug interactions, including contraindicated drugs. Drugs listed in Table 1 are a guide and not considered a comprehensive list of all possible drugs that may interact with PAXLOVID. Consider the potential for drug interactions prior to and during PAXLOVID therapy; review concomitant medications during PAXLOVID therapy and monitor for the adverse reactions associated with the concomitant medications.
Anaphylaxis and other hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with PAXLOVID. Cases of Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported with ritonavir, a component of PAXLOVID (refer to NORVIR prescribing information). If signs and symptoms of a clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction or anaphylaxis occur, immediately discontinue PAXLOVID and initiate appropriate medications and/or supportive care.
Hepatotoxicity: Hepatic transaminase elevations, clinical hepatitis, and jaundice have occurred in patients receiving ritonavir. Therefore, caution should be exercised when administering PAXLOVID to patients with pre-existing liver diseases, liver enzyme abnormalities, or hepatitis.
Because nirmatrelvir is co-administered with ritonavir, there may be a risk of HIV-1 developing resistance to HIV protease inhibitors in individuals with uncontrolled or undiagnosed HIV-1 infection.
Adverse events in the PAXLOVID group (≥1%) that occurred at a greater frequency (≥5 subject difference) than in the placebo group were dysgeusia (6% and <1%, respectively), diarrhea (3% and 2%), hypertension (1% and <1%), and myalgia (1% and <1%). The proportions of subjects who discontinued treatment due to an adverse event were 2% in the PAXLOVID group and 4% in the placebo group.
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-authorization use of PAXLOVID. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Immune System Disorders: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity reactions
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Abdominal pain, nausea
General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Malaise
Required Reporting for Serious Adverse Events and Medication Errors: The prescribing healthcare provider and/or the provider’s designee is/are responsible for mandatory reporting of all serious adverse events and medication errors potentially related to PAXLOVID within 7 calendar days from the healthcare provider's awareness of the event.
Submit adverse event and medication error reports to FDA MedWatch using one of the following methods:
In addition, please provide a copy of all FDA MedWatch forms to: www.pfizersafetyreporting.com, or by fax (1‑866‑635‑8337) or phone (1‑800‑438‑1985).
PAXLOVID is a strong inhibitor of CYP3A and may increase plasma concentrations of drugs that are primarily metabolized by CYP3A. Co-administration of PAXLOVID with drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events is contraindicated. Co-administration with other CYP3A substrates may require a dose adjustment or additional monitoring.
Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir are CYP3A substrates; therefore, drugs that induce CYP3A may decrease nirmatrelvir and ritonavir plasma concentrations and reduce PAXLOVID therapeutic effect.
Pregnancy: There are no available human data on the use of nirmatrelvir during pregnancy to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Published observational studies on ritonavir use in pregnant women have not identified an increase in the risk of major birth defects. Published studies with ritonavir are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk of miscarriage. There are maternal and fetal risks associated with untreated COVID-19 in pregnancy.
Lactation: There are no available data on the presence of nirmatrelvir in human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. A transient decrease in body weight was observed in the nursing offspring of rats administered nirmatrelvir. Limited published data reports that ritonavir is present in human milk. There is no information on the effects of ritonavir on the breastfed infant or the effects of the drug on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for PAXLOVID and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from PAXLOVID or from the underlying maternal condition. Breastfeeding individuals with COVID-19 should follow practices according to clinical guidelines to avoid exposing the infant to COVID-19.
Contraception: Use of ritonavir may reduce the efficacy of combined hormonal contraceptives. Advise patients using combined hormonal contraceptives to use an effective alternative contraceptive method or an additional barrier method of contraception.
Pediatrics: PAXLOVID is not authorized for use in pediatric patients younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 40 kg. The safety and effectiveness of PAXLOVID have not been established in pediatric patients. The authorized adult dosing regimen is expected to result in comparable serum exposures of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir in patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kg as observed in adults, and adults with similar body weight were included in the trial EPIC-HR.
Systemic exposure of nirmatrelvir increases in renally impaired patients with increase in the severity of renal impairment. No dosage adjustment is needed in patients with mild renal impairment. In patients with moderate renal impairment (eGFR ≥30 to <60 mL/min), reduce the dose of PAXLOVID to 150 mg nirmatrelvir and 100 mg ritonavir twice daily for 5 days. Prescriptions should specify the numeric dose of each active ingredient within PAXLOVID. Providers should counsel patients about renal dosing instructions. PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min based on CKD-EPI formula) until more data are available; the appropriate dosage for patients with severe renal impairment has not been determined.
No dosage adjustment of PAXLOVID is needed for patients with either mild (Child-Pugh Class A) or moderate (Child-Pugh Class B) hepatic impairment. No pharmacokinetic or safety data are available regarding the use of nirmatrelvir or ritonavir in subjects with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C); therefore, PAXLOVID is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Please see Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers and Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers.