Is Pemgarda (generic name unknown) still used to treat COVID-19?

Pemgarda is Not Currently Approved or Used for COVID-19 Treatment

Pemgarda is not an FDA-approved or recommended medication for COVID-19 treatment. Based on the available evidence, there is no medication called "Pemgarda" that has been authorized or recommended for COVID-19 treatment in current guidelines.

Current Status of COVID-19 Treatments

• As of the most recent guidelines, there is no FDA-approved routine treatment specifically named "Pemgarda" for COVID-19 1
• The FDA has previously issued emergency use authorizations for specific therapies including chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and convalescent plasma, but not for a medication called Pemgarda 1
• Current guidelines do not recommend hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 treatment, as randomized controlled trials have shown no mortality benefit (OR 1.08,95% CI 0.97-1.19) 1

Previously Used COVID-19 Treatments

• Early in the pandemic (2020), several repurposed medications were investigated including:
  • Remdesivir - received emergency use authorization and was one of the first antiviral treatments 1
  • Lopinavir/ritonavir - showed limited efficacy in clinical trials 1
  • Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine - initially used but later found ineffective with potential cardiac risks 1
  • Convalescent plasma - used under emergency authorization 1

Current Treatment Approaches

• The treatment landscape for COVID-19 has evolved significantly since 2020 2, 3
• Current guidelines recommend against using hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 patients (both hospitalized and outpatients) 1
• For severe COVID-19, treatment focuses on supportive care, antivirals with proven efficacy, and management of complications 1
• Liver function monitoring is recommended for all hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly those receiving drug therapy with potential hepatotoxicity 1

Considerations for Medication Safety

• Many early COVID-19 treatments had significant adverse effects:
  • Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine: cardiac conduction defects leading to arrhythmias, GI effects (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) 1
  • Remdesivir: elevated transaminases and potential hepatotoxicity 1
  • Lopinavir/ritonavir: gastrointestinal adverse events (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting) 1

Clinical Decision Making

• For patients asking about COVID-19 treatments, clinicians should:
  • Refer to current guidelines from major health organizations 1
  • Consider enrollment in clinical trials for novel therapies 1
  • Focus on evidence-based supportive care for symptom management 2, 4
  • Monitor for complications, particularly in patients with pre-existing conditions 1

In conclusion, there is no evidence that a medication called "Pemgarda" is currently approved, recommended, or used for COVID-19 treatment. Patients should be directed to current evidence-based therapies recommended by major health organizations.