GPs can write scripts for molnupiravir from today
The COVID-19 antiviral is PBS listed for specific groups of patients at risk of progressing to severe disease
GPs can start prescribing molnupiravir to patients from today after the drug became the first antiviral to be listed on the PBS as a COVID-19 treatment.
The announcement on Tuesday follows a recommendation from the PBAC for molnupiravir (Lagevrio) to receive a streamlined authority listing for adult patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease.
However, the treatment — which is taken as four capsules every 12 hours over five days — must be started within five days of COVID-19 symptom onset.
The drug’s sponsor, Merck Sharp & Dohme, says there are more than 200,000 treatment courses available in Australia.
