Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®): French pharmacovigilance survey 2022

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid®) is currently one of the few therapeutic options for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) curative treatment in non-oxygen-requiring adult patients at-high risk of progressing to severe disease. This recently approved boosted antiviral therapy presents a significant risk of drug-drug interactions (DDI). As part of the enhanced surveillance program in France for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, the French national pharmacovigilance database (BNPV [base nationale de pharmacovigilance]) was queried in order to better characterize the drug safety profile, with a special focus on DDI. The aim of the study was to describe the adverse drug reactions reported through the BNPV.

All nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reports validated in the BNPV from the first authorization in France (January, 20th 2022) to December, 3rd 2022 (date of the query) were considered. An analysis of the scientific literature (PubMed®) and from the WHO pharmacovigilance database (Vigibase) was also performed.

Over this period (11 months), 228 reports (40% of serious reports) were registered with a sex ratio of 1.9 female/1 male and a mean age of 66 years old. DDI reports account for more than 13% of reports (n=30) and were mainly related to immunosuppressive drugs overexposure (n=16). A total of 10/228 reports with fatal outcomes were reported in complex clinical settings. The main reported unexpected adverse drug reaction (ADRs) were high blood pressure (n=7), confusion (n=5), acute kidney injuries (AKI, n=7) and various skin reactions (n=22). Apart from situations of disease recurrence (not found in this analysis), data from Pubmed® and Vigibase also reported the above-mentioned events of interest.

Overall, this analysis shows that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir safety profile was conform to current summary of product characteristics (SmPC). The main concern was the risk of DDI. Therefore, SmPC and expert recommendations should be systematically consulted before initiation of this antiviral, which is particularly indicated in polypharmacy patients. A case-by-case multidisciplinary approach including a clinical pharmacologist is required in these complex situations. Blood pressure elevation, confusion, cutaneous reactions and AKIs were the main unexpected ADRs of interest to follow, but need to be confirmed with a qualitative approach over time and new reports.