BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WV News) — A hospital official said it is still unclear when new COVID-19 anti-viral pills will be available at local pharmacies.
On Wednesday, Pfizer’s Paxlovid became the first COVID-19 treatment available in pill form approved in the United States. On Thursday, Merck’s molnupiravir became the second.
“It is not yet known how soon to expect Paxlovid on local pharmacy shelves,” said Dr. Mark Povroznik, vice president of quality and chair of infection control at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. “The pill was shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by 89% among those at high-risk.”
“A treatment course consists of taking three pills twice a day for five consecutive days. The treatment includes nirmatrelvir, a protease inhibitor designed specifically to block an enzyme that coronavirus needs to replicate.”
The treatment was authorized for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are 12 and older and weigh at least 88 pounds. It will be available only by prescription and is intended for use within five days of symptom onset, Povroznik said.
The COVID-19 pills will be in low supply initially, however, and health conditions and other medications taken may preclude many patients from being able to take advantage of the pill, according to retired Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, director of the state’s Joint Interagency Task Force.
At the same time, West Virginia is contending with the national shortage of monoclonal antibodies, which have been popular treatments for COVID-19.
Last Wednesday, UHC had to “dramatically curtail” monoclonal antibody infusions, and no additional doses had arrived by Thursday, Povroznik said.
“Up until that time, product allotments to various hospitals in the region were keeping pace with daily scheduled infusions” of about 25 to 30 per day, he said.
Since then, UHC has received 66 doses of Sitrovimab monoclonal antibody treatments, which is believed to have the best activity against the Omicron variant, he said.
The low number of available doses means they will have to be reserved for the highest risk patients as monitoring for the Omicron variant continues in the area.
The status of another 140 doses of Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab that had been ordered at the facility was in question after the announcement that the federal government would cease distribution until further direction from the CDC due to evidence the therapy is less effective against the Omicron variant. Word came on Thursday that the shipment would arrive on Monday, however, in light of the continued prevalence of the Delta variant in West Virginia. The treatment has been largely used during the Delta surge, Povroznik said.
“It is possible that some area facilities or pharmacies may have a few doses on the shelf, but there is not an easy way to identify who has product still available. Overall, the product is very limited and will require tightening the criteria for eligible infusions,” he said.
Risk factors considered will include vaccination status.
“Age is important, but not the only factor to consider, thus the clinical judgement of the provider will be necessary as supplies become more limited. These are stressful and unfortunate outcrops of a pandemic. Vaccines for primary vaccination and boosting remain widely available and have proven beneficial,” he said.
The majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continue to be the unvaccinated. With limited availability of treatments, Hoyer stressed that vaccination is still key in protection against severe COVID-19.
COVID-19 pills are “not going to be a significant benefit to us initially, and vaccines are still the most important opportunity we have,” Hoyer said.
Senior staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.
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