EXPLORING POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN STATINS AND COVID-19 MEDICATIONS
Author(s)
Zhanghe Chen1, Zuhair A. Alqahtani, MSc, PharmD2, Jeff Jianfei Guo, BPharm, PhD3, Bingfang Yan, PhD3, Xiaomo (Shawn) Xiong, MS, PhD4;
1University of Cincinnati, Research Assistant, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2University of Cincinnati, Florence, KY, USA, 3James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 4James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash, OH, USA
1University of Cincinnati, Research Assistant, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 2University of Cincinnati, Florence, KY, USA, 3James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 4James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Blue Ash, OH, USA
OBJECTIVES: Since the approval of COVID-19 antiviral therapies, concerns had emerged regarding potential drug-drug interactions with statins. This study aimed to evaluate pharmacovigilance signals of interactions between COVID-19 antivirals and commonly used statins, and to assess the clinical significance of severe outcomes associated with these drug-drug interactions.
METHODS: The drug-drug interaction reports of COVID-19 antivirals based on their generic and brand names were identified using MedDRA preferred terms using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database (2015 to 2024). Study drugs included commonly used statins such as atorvastatin and simvastatin and COVID-19 antivirals such as remdesivir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir. Safety outcomes focused on severe adverse events, including death and hospitalization, reported in association with drug-drug interactions were analyzed. Disproportionality analysis was conducted using the reporting odds ratio (ROR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess potential safety signals.
RESULTS: A total of 252 reports of drug-drug interactions between COVID-19 antivirals and statin drugs were identified. The majority of reports involved patients aged ≥65 years and males, accounting for 37.5% and 46.5%, respectively. The overall ROR between COVID-19 antivirals and statin drugs was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.90-1.17), while remdesivir showed a notable safety concern, with an ROR of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.46-2.86). Furthermore, the overall ROR for hospitalization reports was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.70-3.33). In individual drug analyses, both nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (ROR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.02-3.78) and remdesivir (ROR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.59-3.54) were associated with a higher likelihood of hospitalization reports.
CONCLUSIONS: Statin drugs are a major clinical concern when co-administered with COVID-19 antivirals due to the risk of significant and potentially severe drug-drug interactions, particularly with remdesivir. This highlights the need for careful medication management and monitoring when prescribing these medications together.
METHODS: The drug-drug interaction reports of COVID-19 antivirals based on their generic and brand names were identified using MedDRA preferred terms using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database (2015 to 2024). Study drugs included commonly used statins such as atorvastatin and simvastatin and COVID-19 antivirals such as remdesivir, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir. Safety outcomes focused on severe adverse events, including death and hospitalization, reported in association with drug-drug interactions were analyzed. Disproportionality analysis was conducted using the reporting odds ratio (ROR), with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess potential safety signals.
RESULTS: A total of 252 reports of drug-drug interactions between COVID-19 antivirals and statin drugs were identified. The majority of reports involved patients aged ≥65 years and males, accounting for 37.5% and 46.5%, respectively. The overall ROR between COVID-19 antivirals and statin drugs was 1.04 (95% CI: 0.90-1.17), while remdesivir showed a notable safety concern, with an ROR of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.46-2.86). Furthermore, the overall ROR for hospitalization reports was 2.38 (95% CI: 1.70-3.33). In individual drug analyses, both nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (ROR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.02-3.78) and remdesivir (ROR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.59-3.54) were associated with a higher likelihood of hospitalization reports.
CONCLUSIONS: Statin drugs are a major clinical concern when co-administered with COVID-19 antivirals due to the risk of significant and potentially severe drug-drug interactions, particularly with remdesivir. This highlights the need for careful medication management and monitoring when prescribing these medications together.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD20
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)