COVID-19 Therapies
Oral COVID-19 therapies
Two therapies are antiviral pills that could help people who are at high risk of serious illness and hospitalization once they have been diagnosed with 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 on May 25, 2023 to help treat COVID-19 in adults at high risk of severe illness from the virus. It is approved for emergency use in children 12 - 17 years of age who weigh at least 88 pounds. It has been approved to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 cases and is meant for use before hospitalization.
Clinical trials show Paxlovid may reduce the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. 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.
How do I get it?
Paxlovid is currently available through healthcare systems and also Test to Treat sites, which include some pharmacies.
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 schedule a virtual visit in primary care, 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?
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.
Patients take four pills every 12 hours for five days. They must start the treatment within five days of showing symptoms.
Molnupiravir is approved, under emergency use, 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, as it has lower efficacy.
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.
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 schedule a virtual visit in primary care, 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.