Two antiviral medicines, Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) were provisionally approved for use in Australia for the treatment of COVID-19 in January 2022, with supply of the medicines commencing in February 2022.
Initially, supply was limited to state and territory health departments, residential aged care facilities (RACFs), and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities via Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations
(ACCHOs). The Federal Government allocated Lagevrio for pre-placement in all RACFs across Australia. States and territories and ACCHOs will be allocated both Paxlovid and Lagevrio.
Both Lagevrio and Paxlovid are now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as Authority Required (Streamlined) items, enabling eligible patients to access these medicines from their local pharmacy where available.
Regardless of how they are accessed, both medicines require a prescription from a GP, physician or nurse practitioner who meets the prescribing requirements before they can be issued.
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (the Taskforce) has released treatment recommendations for the use of both medicines for people aged 18 years or older with confirmed COVID-19 who do not require oxygen and who have one or more risk factors for disease progression. These treatment recommendations are supported by the Taskforce’s decision tool for drug treatments and risk classification tool (both available on the Taskforce website). Please note that the PBS eligibility for both medicines is broader than the Taskforce recommendations.
Both medicines can decrease the risk of hospitalisation if taken within five days of symptom onset.
Not everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will require these medicines, and they will both be of most benefit to people at risk of severe disease. GPs are well placed to make decisions with their patients on the appropriateness of these medicines to treat COVID-19 based on the person’s individual risk for disease progression, medical history, current medicines, age and COVID-19 vaccination status − including time since vaccination.
A COVID-positive person will not be able to attend in person to collect these medicines. Alternate collection or delivery will need to be arranged.