DTMT Network

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 6, 2022, that it is authorising the licenced pharmacists to prescribe Pfizer’s oral COVID drug Paxlovid in the country with certain limitations.

In a statement, the federal drug regulator said that it has revised the emergency use authorisation for Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), to authorise state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients, with certain limitations to ensure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing of Paxlovid.

“The FDA recognizes the important role pharmacists have played and continue to play in combatting this pandemic,” director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Dr Patrizia Cavazzoni said.

“Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment for some patients who are eligible to receive this drug for the treatment of COVID19,” she added.

In order to avail the prescriptions from a pharmacist, a COVID-positive patient must furnish certain documents including health records less than 12 months old and a list of all medications they are taking, including over-the-counter medications so as to enable the pharmacists to evaluate the potential risks before prescribing the drug, FDA statement added.

In case sufficient information about the renal and hepatic functions and [possible drug interactions are not available, the pharmacists have to refer the patient to a physician for clinical evaluation, it further added.