COVID -19 therapy updates for Tocilizumab and Remdesivir use
04 Jul 2021Learn about eligibility for emergency use authorizations
By: Danielle Britt, MA, PharmD, antimicrobial stewardship/infectious diseases pharmacist
Tocilizumab:
On June 24, 2021, the FDA issued an EUA for the use of Tocilizumab (ACTEMRA) for the treatment of COIVD-19 in hospitalized adult and pediatric patients who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and supplemental respiratory support. Starting June 29, 2021, all hospitalized adult patients who meet the use criteria without contraindications, will be eligible to receive Tocilizumab. This will expand our current usage criteria and allow more therapy options to hospitalized patients.
Since Tocilizumab is available via an EUA, patient/ LAR education and chart documentation is required for use. Both providers and pharmacists have responsibilities when using or verifying EUA medications:
- Providers will be required to complete ALL questions during order entry of Tocilizumab. If the questions are not completed by the ordering provider then the drug will not be dispensed by pharmacy.
- Providers MUST review EUA sheet and provide a copy to patient /LAR prior to administration of Tocilizumab.
- Pharmacist MUST verify that patients do not have any of the listed laboratory exclusions (LFTs, ANC, d, etc.). If you are not able to verify these items, then drug should not be dispensed.
- If the order cannot be verified, the pharmacist needs to notify provider of missing labs or contraindication, and why the drug cannot be dispensed.
Remdesivir:
On July 2, Remdesivir use will be expanded to include all hospitalized COVID positive patients with mild to moderate disease who are acutely decompensating. Patients will no longer need to be actively receiving oxygen support or hypoxic to be eligible for Remdesivir therapy. Pharmacists will no longer need to verify oxygenation status but rather ensure patient is COVID positive and doesn’t have any contraindication to drug use prior to order verification.
Helpful links:
https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/actemra_eua_hcp_fact_sheet.pdf
https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/actemra_eua_patient_fact_sheet.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/media/150345/download
For questions, please contact:
Danielle Britt, MA, PharmD AMS/ID Pharmacist
danielle.britt@salemhealth.org
Jasmin Chaudhary, MD Infection Prevention Medical Director
Jasmin.Chaudhary@salemhealth.org or jchaudha@gmail.com