COVID-19 Therapies
COVID-19 therapies with emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
(Updated January 26, 2023)
Two therapies are antiviral pills that could help people once they have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Hennepin Healthcare is working closely with the Minnesota Department of Health and other health systems throughout the state to plan for equitable distribution of these new therapies to patients who are at high risk of serious illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.
While the COVID-19 vaccine with boosters is still the best protection against the virus, new prevention and treatment options are especially helpful for people with certain pre-existing conditions. Read on to learn more about how the new therapies work, who qualifies, and how to access them through Hennepin Healthcare.
Paxlovid
What is it?
Paxlovid is an antiviral medicine from Pfizer. It was approved for emergency use on December 22, 2021 to help treat COVID-19 in people at high risk of severe illness from the virus. It has been approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 cases and is meant for use before hospitalization.
Clinical trials show Paxlovid can reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 by nearly 90 percent. Like molnupiravir, Paxlovid treatment must be started within five days of showing symptoms.
Paxlovid is a protease inhibitor. It stops the COVID-19 virus from replicating inside a person’s body by blocking protease, an enzyme that the virus needs to multiply. Protease inhibitors have long been used to treat other viruses, including HIV and hepatitis C. It does interact with other drugs you might be taking so your provider will need to weigh the benefits vs harm due to drug interactions.
Paxlovid is currently approved for people 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds.
How do I get it?
Paxlovid is currently available through health care systems and also Test to Treat sites, which include some pharmacies. Hennepin Healthcare is working with the Minnesota Department of Health and health systems throughout the state to plan for distribution based on available supply and COVID-19 rates/need for medication.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 at Hennepin Healthcare and meet the criteria for this treatment, one of our team members will reach out to you directly when there is medication available. Outreach occurs on weekdays.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by testing at home or somewhere else, you have had symptoms for 5 days or less, and you are interested in this treatment, please reach out to your PCP/clinic team or call our COVID-19 Patient Care Line, 612-873-2922 (8:00a - 4:30p, M-F), to see if you are eligible and if medication is available.
Molnupiravir
What is it?
In addition to Evusheld, the FDA recently issued emergency use authorization for two new COVID-19 treatments – molnupiravir and paxlovid. Molnupiravir is an oral pill from Merck. It dramatically changes the virus’s genetic code, causing it to mutate so much that it can’t replicate.
Recent studies show that molnupiravir can reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 by 30 percent. Patients take four pills every 12 hours for five days. They must start the treatment within five days of showing symptoms.
Molnupiravir is approved to treat mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for severe illness but have not yet been hospitalized. It’s only approved in cases where alternative COVID-19 treatments approved by the FDA aren’t appropriate.
Molnupiravir is only approved for adults 18 and older. It’s not recommended for people who are pregnant.
How do I get it?
Molnupiravir received emergency use authorization on December 23, 2021, and it is currently available. Hennepin Healthcare is working with the Minnesota Department of Health and health systems throughout the state to plan for distribution based on available supply and COVID-19 rates/need for medication.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 at Hennepin Healthcare and meet the criteria for this treatment, one of our team members will reach out to you directly when there is medication available. Outreach occurs on weekdays.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by testing at home or somewhere else, you have had symptoms for 5 days or less, and you are interested in this treatment, please reach out to your PCP/clinic team or call our COVID-19 Patient Care Line, 612-873-2922 (8:00a - 4:30p, M-F), to see if you are eligible and if medication is available.
We will update this web page when there are changes in the supply of these medications or how they are distributed. In the meantime, please continue to get vaccinated or get booster shots when eligible, wear a high-quality mask and practice all necessary COVID-19 precautions.