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HIGHLIGHTS OF EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION (EUA) | |
| MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF MOLNUPIRAVIR UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION Refer to FULL FACTSHEET for details. | |
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an EUA for the emergency use of the unapproved molnupiravir, a nucleoside analogue that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by viral mutagenesis for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. Molnupiravir is not FDA-approved for any use including for use for the treatment of COVID-19. Prior to initiating treatment with molnupiravir, carefully consider the known and potential risks and benefits. (1)
Molnupiravir may only be prescribed for an individual patient by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants that are licensed or authorized under state law to prescribe drugs in the therapeutic class to which molnupiravir belongs (i.e., anti-infectives).
------------------------------------DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION--------------------------------- | ---------------------------------DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS---------------------------------- Capsules: 200 mg (3) -----------------------------------------CONTRAINDICATIONS------------------------------------------ No contraindications have been identified based on the limited available data on the emergency use of molnupiravir authorized under this EUA. (4) ------------------------------------WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS------------------------------------
------------------------------------------ADVERSE REACTIONS----------------------------------------- Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 1%) are diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. (6.1)
------------------------------------------DRUG INTERACTIONS------------------------------------------- No drug interactions have been identified based on the limited available data on the emergency use of molnupiravir authorized under this EUA. (7) -------------------------------------USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS-------------------------------- See FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. |
| Fact Sheet for Patients And Caregivers Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Of Molnupiravir For Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
What is the most important information I should know about molnupiravir?
Molnupiravir may cause serious side effects, including:
- Molnupiravir may cause harm to your unborn baby. It is not known if molnupiravir will harm your baby if you take molnupiravir during pregnancy.
- Molnupiravir is not recommended for use in pregnancy.
- Molnupiravir has not been studied in pregnancy. Molnupiravir was studied in pregnant animals only. When molnupiravir was given to pregnant animals, molnupiravir caused harm to their unborn babies.
- You and your healthcare provider may decide that you should take molnupiravir during pregnancy if there are no other COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA that are accessible or clinically appropriate for you.
- If you and your healthcare provider decide that you should take molnupiravir during pregnancy, you and your healthcare provider should discuss the known and potential benefits and the potential risks of taking molnupiravir during pregnancy.
- You should use a reliable method of birth control (contraception) consistently and correctly during treatment with molnupiravir and for 4 days after the last dose of molnupiravir. Talk to your healthcare provider about reliable birth control methods.
- Before starting treatment with molnupiravir your healthcare provider may do a pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant before starting treatment with molnupiravir.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with molnupiravir.
- There is a pregnancy surveillance program for individuals who take molnupiravir during pregnancy. The purpose of this program is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to take part in this program.
- If you take molnupiravir during pregnancy and you agree to participate in the pregnancy surveillance program and allow your healthcare provider to share your information with Merck Sharp & Dohme, then your healthcare provider will report your use of molnupiravir during pregnancy to Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. by calling 1-877-888-4231 or pregnancyreporting.msd.com.
- It is not known if molnupiravir can affect sperm. While the risk is regarded as low, animal studies to fully assess the potential for molnupiravir to affect the babies of males treated with molnupiravir have not been completed. A reliable method of birth control (contraception) should be used consistently and correctly during treatment with molnupiravir and for at least 3 months after the last dose. The risk to sperm beyond 3 months is not known. Studies to understand the risk to sperm beyond 3 months are ongoing. Talk to your healthcare provider about reliable birth control methods. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about how molnupiravir may affect sperm.
- with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and
- who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 including hospitalization or death, and for whom other COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.
- for use in people less than 18 years of age.
- for prevention of COVID-19.
- for people needing hospitalization for COVID-19.
- for use for longer than 5 consecutive days.
- Have any allergies
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
- Have any serious illnesses
- Are taking any medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal products).
- Take molnupiravir exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- Take 4 capsules of molnupiravir every 12 hours (for example, at 8 am and at 8 pm)
- Take molnupiravir for 5 days. It is important that you complete the full 5 days of treatment with molnupiravir. Do not stop taking molnupiravir before you complete the full 5 days of treatment, even if you feel better.
- Take molnupiravir with or without food.
- You should stay in isolation for as long as your healthcare provider tells you to. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are not sure about how to properly isolate while you have COVID-19.
- Swallow molnupiravir capsules whole. Do not open, break, or crush the capsules. If you cannot swallow capsules whole, tell your healthcare provider.
- What to do if you miss a dose:
- If it has been less than 10 hours since the missed dose, take it as soon as you remember
- If it has been more than 10 hours since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and take your dose at the next scheduled time.
- Do not double the dose of molnupiravir to make up for a missed dose.
- See, “What is the most important information I should know about molnupiravir?”
- diarrhea
- nausea
- dizziness
- Store molnupiravir capsules at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
- Keep molnupiravir and all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.
- Ask your healthcare provider.
- Visit www.cdc.gov/COVID19
- Contact your local or state public health department.
- Call Merck Sharp & Dohme at 1-800-672-6372 (toll free in the U.S.)
- Visit www.molnupiravir.com
For individuals who are able to become pregnant:
Pregnancy Surveillance Program:
For individuals who are sexually active with partners who are able to become pregnant:
You are being given this fact sheet because your healthcare provider believes it is necessary to provide you with molnupiravir for the treatment of adults with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 including hospitalization or death, and for whom other COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to make molnupiravir available during the COVID-19 pandemic (for more details about an EUA please see “What is an Emergency Use Authorization?” at the end of this document). Molnupiravir is not an FDA-approved medicine in the United States. Read this Fact Sheet for information about molnupiravir. Talk to your healthcare provider about your options if you have any questions. It is your choice to take molnupiravir.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is caused by a virus called a coronavirus. You can get COVID-19 through close contact with another person who has the virus.
COVID-19 illnesses have ranged from very mild-to-severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, serious illness can happen and may cause some of your other medical conditions to become worse. Older people and people of all ages with severe, long lasting (chronic) medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example seem to be at higher risk of being hospitalized for COVID-19.
What is molnupiravir?
Molnupiravir is an investigational medicine used to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults:
The FDA has authorized the emergency use of molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults under an EUA. For more information on EUA, see the “What is an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?” section at the end of this Fact Sheet.
Molnupiravir is not authorized:
What should I tell my healthcare provider before I take molnupiravir?
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
How do I take molnupiravir?
What are the important possible side effects of molnupiravir?
Possible side effects of molnupiravir are:
These are not all the possible side effects of molnupiravir. Not many people have taken molnupiravir. Serious and unexpected side effects may happen. This medicine is still being studied, so it is possible that all of the risks are not known at this time.
What other treatment choices are there?
Like molnupiravir, FDA may allow for the emergency use of other medicines to treat people with COVID-19. Go to https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-legal-regulatory-and-policy-framework/emergency-use-authorization for more information.
It is your choice to be treated or not to be treated with molnupiravir. Should you decide not to take it, it will not change your standard medical care.
What if I am breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with molnupiravir and for 4 days after the last dose of molnupiravir. If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, talk to your healthcare provider about your options and specific situation before taking molnupiravir.
How do I report side effects with molnupiravir?
Contact your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.
Report side effects to FDA MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).
How should I store molnupiravir?
How can I learn more about COVID-19?
What Is an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)?
The United States FDA has made molnupiravir available under an emergency access mechanism called an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) The EUA is supported by a Secretary of Health and Human Service (HHS) declaration that circumstances exist to justify emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate, has not undergone the same type of review as an FDA-approved product. In issuing an EUA under the COVID-19 public health emergency, the FDA has determined, among other things, that based on the total amount of scientific evidence available including data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials, if available, it is reasonable to believe that the product may be effective for diagnosing, treating, or preventing COVID-19, or a serious or life-threatening disease or condition caused by COVID-19; that the known and potential benefits of the product, when used to diagnose, treat, or prevent such disease or condition, outweigh the known and potential risks of such product; and that there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
All of these criteria must be met to allow for the product to be used in the treatment of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EUA for molnupiravir is in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 declaration justifying emergency use of molnupiravir, unless terminated or revoked (after which molnupiravir may no longer be used under the EUA).