Product Access for VEKLURY® (remdesivir) | HCP

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Gilead is committed to VEKLURY patient access

Should questions arise regarding insurance and coverage issues, distribution, or billing, the Gilead Advancing Access® program is committed to providing you with necessary information.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has assigned a permanent J-code, J0248, for VEKLURY when administered in an outpatient setting. This code has a 1-mg billing increment, is available for use by all payers, and is effective for dates of service on or after December 23, 2021.1

Coding requirements will vary by payer, setting of care, and date of service. Please verify patient-specific insurance benefits to confirm specific coding and billing guidelines for VEKLURY.

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An Advancing Access program specialist is available if you need further assistance, want more information, or have questions.

Call 1-800-226-2056 (Option 4), M–F, 9 am–8 pm ET regarding:

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General Inquiries

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Assistance & Verification

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CO-PAY INFORMATION

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Coding & Reimbursement

Call 1-800-226-2056
(Option 4), M–F, 9 am–8 pm ET

You can also leave a confidential message any time and day of the week.

Important Safety Information

Contraindication

  • VEKLURY is contraindicated in patients with a history of clinically significant hypersensitivity reactions to VEKLURY or any of its components.

Warnings and precautions

  • Hypersensitivity, including infusion-related and anaphylactic reactions: Hypersensitivity, including infusion-related and anaphylactic reactions, has been observed during and following administration of VEKLURY; most reactions occurred within 1 hour. Monitor patients during infusion and observe for at least 1 hour after infusion is complete for signs and symptoms of hypersensitivity as clinically appropriate. Symptoms may include hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypoxia, fever, dyspnea, wheezing, angioedema, rash, nausea, diaphoresis, and shivering. Slower infusion rates (maximum infusion time of up to 120 minutes) can potentially prevent these reactions. If a severe infusion-related hypersensitivity reaction occurs, immediately discontinue VEKLURY and initiate appropriate treatment (see Contraindications).
  • Increased risk of transaminase elevations: Transaminase elevations have been observed in healthy volunteers and in patients with COVID-19 who received VEKLURY; these elevations have also been reported as a clinical feature of COVID-19. Perform hepatic laboratory testing in all patients (see Dosage and administration). Consider discontinuing VEKLURY if ALT levels increase to >10x ULN. Discontinue VEKLURY if ALT elevation is accompanied by signs or symptoms of liver inflammation.
  • Risk of reduced antiviral activity when coadministered with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine: Coadministration of VEKLURY with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended based on data from cell culture experiments, demonstrating potential antagonism, which may lead to a decrease in the antiviral activity of VEKLURY.

Adverse reactions

  • The most common adverse reaction (≥5% all grades) was nausea.
  • The most common lab abnormalities (≥5% all grades) were increases in ALT and AST.

Dosage and administration

  • Administration should take place under conditions where management of severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, is possible.
  • Treatment duration:
    • For patients who are hospitalized, VEKLURY should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19.
    • For patients who are hospitalized and do not require invasive mechanical ventilation and/or ECMO, the recommended treatment duration is 5 days. If a patient does not demonstrate clinical improvement, treatment may be extended up to 5 additional days, for a total treatment duration of up to 10 days.
    • For patients who are hospitalized and require invasive mechanical ventilation and/or ECMO, the recommended total treatment duration is 10 days.
    • For patients who are not hospitalized, diagnosed with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, the recommended total treatment duration is 3 days. VEKLURY should be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis of symptomatic COVID-19 and within 7 days of symptom onset for outpatient use.
  • Testing prior to and during treatment: Perform hepatic laboratory and prothrombin time testing prior to initiating VEKLURY and during use as clinically appropriate.
  • Renal impairment: No dosage adjustment of VEKLURY is recommended in patients with any degree of renal impairment, including patients on dialysis. VEKLURY may be administered without regard to the timing of dialysis.

Pregnancy and lactation

  • Pregnancy: A pregnancy registry has been established for VEKLURY. Available clinical trial data for VEKLURY in pregnant women have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes following second- and third-trimester exposure. There are insufficient data to evaluate the risk of VEKLURY exposure during the first trimester. Maternal and fetal risks are associated with untreated COVID-19 in pregnancy.
  • Lactation: VEKLURY can pass into breast milk. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for VEKLURY and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from VEKLURY or from an underlying maternal condition. Breastfeeding individuals with COVID-19 should follow practices according to clinical guidelines to avoid exposing the infant to COVID-19.

INDICATION

VEKLURY is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (birth to <18 years of age weighing ≥1.5 kg), who are:

  • Hospitalized, or
  • Not hospitalized, have mild-to-moderate COVID-19, and are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

Please see full Prescribing Information for VEKLURY.

Reference: 1. Special edition-COVID-19: new HCPCS code for remdesivir antiviral medication. News release. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. January 7, 2022. Accessed March 8, 2024. https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-educationoutreachffsprovpartprogprovider-partnership-email-archive/2022-01-07-mlnc-se