| Literature DB >> 35305258 |
Abstract
Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid™; Pfizer) is a co-packaged combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets, intended for co-administration and developed for the treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Nirmatrelvir is a peptidomimetic inhibitor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease, while ritonavir is a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor and CYP3A inhibitor. Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir received its first conditional authorization in December 2021 in the United Kingdom, for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19. In January 2022, nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir received authorization in the EU for use in the same indication. Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir is authorized for emergency use in the USA. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir leading to its first authorizations and approval for the treatment of COVID-19.Entities:
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Year: 2022 PMID: 35305258 PMCID: PMC8933659 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-022-01692-5
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Drugs ISSN: 0012-6667 Impact factor: 11.431
| A co-packaged combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir is being developed by Pfizer for the treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 |
| Received its first emergency use authorization on 22 December 2021 in the USA, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (≥ 12 years of age and weighing ≥ 40 kg) at increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 |
| Received its first conditional authorization on 31 December 2021 in the UK, for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and are at increased risk for progression to severe COVID-19 |
| Received conditional authorization in the EU on 28 January 2022 |
Features and properties of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir
| Alternative names | Nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets; nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir - Pfizer; nirmatrelvir+ritonavir - Pfizer; PAXLOVID; PF 07321332 plus ritonavir - Pfizer; PF 07321332+ritonavir - Pfizer; PF-07321332/ritonavir |
| Class | Amides; amines; antivirals; aza compounds; carbamates; fluorinated hydrocarbons; heterocyclic bicyclo compounds; nitriles; pyrrolidinones; small molecules; thiazoles |
| Mechanism of action | Coronavirus-3C-like-proteinase inhibitors (nirmatrelvir); HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir) |
| Route of administration | Oral |
| Pharmacodynamics | Nirmatrelvir: Binds directly to SARS-CoV-2 main protease active site; inhibits SARS-CoV-2 main protease, rendering it unable to process polyprotein precursors and consequently preventing viral replication |
| Ritonavir: Inhibits CYP3A-mediated metabolism of nirmatrelvir, thus increasing plasma concentrations of nirmatrelvir; not active against SARS-CoV-2 main protease | |
| Pharmacokinetics | Ritonavir increases systemic concentrations and half-life of nirmatrelvir; half-life of nirmatrelvir ≈ 6 h when administered with ritonavir |
| Adverse events | Dysgeusia, diarrhea, hypertension, myalgia |
| ATC codes | |
| WHO ATC code | J05 (Antivirals for Systemic Use) |
| EphMRA ATC code | J5 (Antivirals for Systemic Use) |
| Chemical name | (1R,2S,5S)-N-[(1S)-1-cyano-2-[(3S)-2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl]ethyl]-3-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyl-2-[(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)amino]butanoyl]-6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-carboxamide/1,3-thiazol-5-ylmethyl N-[(2S,3S,5S)-3-hydroxy-5-[[(2S)-3-methyl-2-[[methyl-[(2-propan-2-yl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)methyl]carbamoyl]amino]butanoyl]amino]-1,6-diphenylhexan-2-yl]carbamate |
SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Key clinical trials of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Pfizer)
| Drug(s) | Indication | Phase | Status | Location(s) | Identifier |
| Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir; placebo | Treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 (high-risk adults) | II/III | Active, no longer recruiting | Global | EPIC-HR; NCT04960202; EudraCT2021-002895-38; C4671005 |
| Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir; placebo | Treatment of symptomatic COVID-19 (standard-risk adults) | II/III | Active, no longer recruiting | Global | EPIC-SR; NCT05011513; EudraCT2021-002857-28; C4671002 |
| Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir; placebo | Post-exposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection | II/III | Recruiting | Global | EPIC-PEP; NCT05047601; EudraCT2021-002894-24; C4671006 |
COVID-19 coronavirus disease 2019, SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2