Health professional risk communication

PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) - Dosing and Dispensing in Renal Impairment, Risk of Serious Adverse Reactions Due to Drug Interactions, and English-Only Labels

Last updated

Summary

Product
PAXLOVID (150 mg nirmatrelvir; 100 mg ritonavir)
Issue
Health products - Labelling
Health products - New safety information
Health products - Supply
COVID
What to do

See Key Messages below

Audience
Health professionals

Affected products

PAXLOVID (150 mg nirmatrelvir; 100 mg ritonavir) co-packaged tablets for oral use. Drug Identification Number (DIN): 02524031

Issue

UPDATED INFORMATION - July 6, 2022

A new PAXLOVID dose pack for use in patients with moderate renal impairment (eGFR ≥30 to <60 mL/min) is now available with a distinct DIN: 02527804. Pfizer has introduced this new packaging configuration to mitigate dosing errors, given that these patients require a reduced daily dose of nirmatrelvir. Each carton of the new dose pack contains 20 tablets divided in 5 daily-dose blister cards. Each daily blister card contains 2 nirmatrelvir tablets (150 mg each) and 2 ritonavir tablets (100 mg each), which are separated into morning and evening doses (see images in Appendix B).

The original dose pack (DIN: 02524031), introduced on January 17, 2022, should be used for patients with normal renal function or mild renal impairment (eGFR ≥60 mL/min). This packaging configuration consists of 30 tablets divided in 5 daily-dose blister cards. Each daily blister card contains 4 nirmatrelvir tablets (150 mg each) and 2 ritonavir tablets (100 mg each) separated into morning and evening doses (see images in Appendix A).

In the event that the new dose pack is not available, healthcare professionals should refer to the instructions provided in the January 17, 2022 communication (see the Information for healthcare professionals section) for dispensing PAXLOVID to patients with moderate renal impairment.

Similar to the original dose pack, Pfizer is introducing the new dose pack with the US Emergency Use label, in English-only, for a period of time. As a result, important Canadian-specific information is absent from the carton and blister labels (see the January 17, 2022 communication for more information).

When indicated, PAXLOVID should be initiated as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID-19 has been made, and within 5 days of symptom onset. It is recommended that all prescriptions specify the dose and the number of tablets for each active ingredient (see the table in the January 17, 2022 communication).

PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min).

 

January 17, 2022

PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) was authorized by Health Canada on January 17, 2022. PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment and requires a dosage reduction in patients with moderate renal impairment. PAXLOVID may also interact with various medications, which could result in serious or life-threatening adverse reactions, or a loss of therapeutic effect and possible development of viral resistance. In order to provide rapid access to PAXLOVID, Pfizer will distribute product cartons and blisters labelled in English-only for a period of time. As a result, important Canadian-specific information is absent from these labels.

 

Audience

Healthcare professionals including physicians, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses and public health officials.

 

Key messages

 

Background information

PAXLOVID is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults 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.

PAXLOVID is not authorized for:

  • the initiation of treatment in patients requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19;
  • pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19;
  • use for longer than 5 consecutive days.

To provide earlier access to PAXLOVID in the context of the global pandemic, Pfizer is providing cartons and blisters with the US Emergency Use label. This label is presented in English-only and is missing some important Canadian-specific information normally found on Health Canada approved labels (see the Information for healthcare professionals section and images in Appendix A).

Each carton of PAXLOVID contains 30 tablets divided in 5 daily-dose blister cards. Each daily blister card contains 4 nirmatrelvir tablets (150 mg each) and 2 ritonavir tablets (100 mg each), which are separated into morning and evening doses.

 

Information for consumers

PAXLOVID is used in adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and who are at high risk for getting severe COVID-19, which can result in hospitalization or death.

PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe kidney disease. Patients with moderate kidney disease should talk to their healthcare professional, as they will require a reduced dose.

Various medications may interact with PAXLOVID. Taking PAXLOVID with these medicines may cause serious or life-threatening side effects or affect how PAXLOVID works. Patients should tell their healthcare professional about all the medicines they are taking, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

 

Information for healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals are advised that:

  • PAXLOVID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment. Patients with moderate renal impairment require a dose reduction. Each daily blister card contains two more nirmatrelvir tablets than are needed for dosing in patients with moderate renal impairment. It is recommended that all prescriptions specify the dose and the number of tablets for each active ingredient as follows:

 

eGFR*

PAXLOVID Dose

≥60 mL/min

(normal renal function or mild

renal impairment)

300 mg nirmatrelvir (two tablets of 150 mg each) with 100 mg ritonavir (one tablet of 100 mg), taken together twice daily for 5 days.

≥30 to <60 mL/min

(moderate renal impairment)

150 mg nirmatrelvir (one tablet of 150 mg) with 100 mg ritonavir (one tablet of 100 mg), taken together twice daily for 5 days.

<30 mL/min

(severe renal impairment)

PAXLOVID is not recommended.

*eGFR=estimated glomerular filtration rate based on the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula 

  • When dispensing PAXLOVID, healthcare professionals should ensure that patients with moderate renal impairment receive additional support and instructions given the risk of dosing errors. This includes removing two nirmatrelvir tablets from daily blister cards (i.e., one of the 150 mg nirmatrelvir tablets from the morning dose and one of the 150 mg nirmatrelvir tablets from the evening dose) prior to dispensing, notifying patients that blister cards have been altered at the pharmacy and counselling patients about renal dosing instructions.
  • PAXLOVID may interact with various medications that could result in serious adverse reactions, including a loss of therapeutic effect. PAXLOVID, a CYP3A inhibitor, may increase the plasma concentrations of concomitant medications metabolized by CYP3A. The use of concomitant medications that inhibit or induce CYP3A may increase or decrease concentrations of PAXLOVID, respectively. These interactions may lead to serious (and sometimes life-threatening) adverse reactions from greater exposure to concomitant medications or PAXLOVID. These interactions may also lead to a loss of therapeutic effect of PAXLOVID and possible development of viral resistance. Refer to the CPM for more information on potential drug interactions.

  • The following important Canadian-specific information is absent from PAXLOVID carton and blister labels:
    • Drug Identification Number (DIN)
    • drug class
    • “Pr” (prescription) symbol
    • name and address of the Canadian importer and distributor
    • to keep out of the reach and sight of children
    • all corresponding text in French

  • The carton and blister labels include the statement “For use under Emergency Use Authorization.” The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specific information should be disregarded as this is not relevant to the Canadian authorization.
  • The CPM should be referenced for complete product information. The CPM is available in French and English on Health Canada’s Drug Product Database, at pfizer.ca, on the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal, and by scanning the QR code on the English-only carton label to visit www.covid19oralrx.com.

 

For any medical questions, contact Pfizer Canada ULC Medical Information at www.pfizermedicalinformation.ca or 1-800-463-6001. For any other general inquiries, contact Pfizer Canada ULC Customer Service at 1-888-888-9221 or CANADAPAXLOVIDCS@Pfizer.com.

 

Action taken by Health Canada

On January 17, 2022, PAXLOVID was authorized by Health Canada.

Health Canada is permitting the use of an English-only label that reflects the US label for emergency use for a period of time. Health Canada has imposed terms and conditions requiring Pfizer Canada ULC to provide supplies with Canadian-specific labels as soon as possible.

Health Canada has worked with Pfizer Canada ULC to prepare this alert for PAXLOVID. Health Canada is communicating this important safety information to healthcare professionals and Canadians via the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Healthy Canadians Web Site. This communication update will be further distributed through the MedEffect™ e-Notice email notification system, as well as through social media channels, including LinkedIn and Twitter.

 

Report health or safety concerns

Managing marketed health product-related side effects depends on healthcare professionals and consumers reporting them. Any serious or unexpected side effects in patients receiving PAXLOVID should be reported to Pfizer Canada ULC or Health Canada.

 

Pfizer Canada ULC

17300 Trans-Canada Highway

Kirkland, QC

H9J 2M5
www.pfizersafetyreporting.com

Telephone: 1-866-723-7111

Fax: 1-855-242-5652

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

For other health product inquiries related to this communication, contact Health Canada at:

Therapeutic Products Directorate

Bureau of Gastroenterology, Infection and Viral Diseases

E-mail: bgivd_enquiries@hc-sc.gc.ca

 

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Vratislav Hadrava M.D., Ph.D.

Vice President & Medical Director

Pfizer Canada ULC

 

Appendix A: PAXLOVID English-only blister and carton labels - Original dose pack for patients with normal renal function or mild renal impairment (eGFR ≥60 mL/min)

Blister Label

Carton Label

 

Appendix B: PAXLOVID English-only blister and carton labels – New dose pack for patients with moderate renal impairment (eGFR ≥30 to <60 mL/min)

Appendix B - Blister Label

Appendix B - Carton Label

Additional information

Details
Original published date:
Alert / recall type
Health professional risk communication
Category
Health products - Drugs
Companies
Published by
Health Canada
Audience
Health professionals
Identification number
RA-63819