NEW recommendations regarding the use of COVID-19 antivirals, Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), have been issued by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).
Following the release of a preliminary analysis of the UK's PANORAMIC trial which found Lagevrio plus usual care for community treatment of adults with COVID-19 was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes than usual care alone, the Committee has recommended that an administrative note be added to the medication's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing, stating it "should be considered for use only if nirmatrelvir and ritonavir is contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable".
"The PBAC observed that subjects in PANORAMIC were, as a whole, younger than subjects receiving molnupiravir in Australia," the Committee said.
"Two-thirds of PBS utilisation of molnupiravir has been in patients 70 years of age or older, whereas less than 15% of PANORAMIC subjects were 70 years of age or older.
"Also, patients at highest risk of progression to severe disease in the UK were not the target population in PANORAMIC."
In response to correspondence from Queensland Health, the PBAC has recommended that the PBS listings for Lagevrio and Paxlovid be amended to provide access to "patients with any significantly immunocompromising condition where in the last 12 months, the patient has received anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment".
The Committee has also backed calls for the antivirals to be made available through the PBS for patients who have previously been hospitalised with COVID-19 if they are subsequently reinfected.
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