FDA updates screening checklist for COVID-19 pill 

The Food and Drug Administration Friday released an updated checklist to help clinicians screen patients for potential drug interactions before prescribing the Pfizer antiviral pill Paxlovid to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients at high risk for progressing to severe disease. FDA said prescribers should review each patient’s medications and use resources noted in the checklist to evaluate for potential drug interactions in patients whose medications are not included in the checklist or fact sheet for health care providersr. 

In other news, the agency announced it may launch a pilot program for approved medical devices sterilized using radiation to help advance alternative ways to sterilize these devices.