Paxlovid shortage to be resolved with Molnupiravir approval?

MFDS reviews accelerated approval of the drug… prescriptions increase due to RAT COVID-19 confirmations

Gov’t to distribute the 240,000 courses procured through advance agreement…expected to use existing base pharmacies

The shortage of Paxlovid at pharmacies is expected to be partially resolved with the government's emergency approval of Merck (MDS)’s oral COVID-19 treatment ‘molnupiravir.’ On the 18th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters had announced that 88,276 courses of Paxlovid remain in stock in Korea.

 

Also, with the grant of RAT(rapid antigen test)-based confirmation of COVID-19, the average daily prescription of Paxlovid increased over twofold from 2,404 in the second week to 5,184 in the third week of this month.

 

With more than 300,000 new confirmed cases occurring steadily, the domestic inventory of Paxlovid is expected to be exhausted by the end of this month.

 

The government is planning to introduce additional courses of Paxlovid in Korea soon, but many base pharmacies are already out of stock and unable to dispense the drug.

 

Pharmacy A at Seoul said, “The amount and period of Paxlovid shipments aren’t constant, but we receive around 100 courses per shipment, and this doesn’t last a week at the current prescription rate.

 

We have none in stock right now.” It is expected that the government seems to be working to expand treatment options through the emergency approval of molnupiravir.

 

The government had previously conducted a review on the emergency use of the drug in November last year but had withheld approval due to poor preventive effects.

 

Although the MFDS did not disclose the specific schedule for approval, the government did express its intention to start the review.

 

If so, the drug is expected to be approved this month at the earliest.

 

The Korean government had previously signed an advance purchase agreement with Merck for 242,000 courses of its drug.

 

If the drug is approved under the emergency approval process, the drug is expected to be distributed through the existing base pharmacies because a real-time demand monitoring system has been well established in the pharmacies and is easily manageable by the local government.

 

Pharmacy A said, “We have received no news about molnupiravir yet, but since there are already enough base pharmacies, I don’t think the government will separately designate more for the drug.” However, as the method of administration and eligible sublets differ for the two drugs, additional education and guidance will be provided for the use of molnupiravir.

 

Both drugs are taken twice a day for 5 days, but the total amount of capsules taken differs, 30 for Paxlovid and 40 for molupiravir.

 

Also, the kind of side effects that arise and the subjects allowed for use differ.

 

Earlier, the Korea Pharmaceutical Association had prepared a medication guide for patients using Paxlovid.

 

Therefore, a medication guide for molnupiravir is also expected to be prepared after its approval and indication are finalized.