California Pharmacist Vol. 73, No. 3 SUMMER 2026 - Magazine - Page 38
Infectious
Disease
Xocova
(ensitrelvir)
Ensitrelvir is the 昀椀rst and only prescription oral medication approved
for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) of
COVID-19 in adults and adolescents
12 years of age and older following
contact with an individual who has
COVID-19. It binds to the SARSCoV-2 main protease inhibitor, also
known as Mpro. The drug prevents
viral replication by inhibiting 3C-like
protease. Ensitrelvir should be started as soon as possible and within 72
hours of exposure. It reduced the risk
of symptomatic COVID-19 by 67% by
day 10 vs. placebo in a clinical study.
Shionogi
5/29/26
Infectious
Disease
Utebzi (tebipenem
pivoxil)
Tebipenem pivoxil is the 昀椀rst and
only oral carbapenem antibiotic approved by the FDA. It is an antibiotic
indicated for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI),
including pyelonephritis, caused by
the following susceptible microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella
pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae
species complex, Klebsiella oxytoca,
and Enterococcus faecalis in adults
who have limited or no alternative
oral treatment options.
GSK
(GlaxoSmithKline)
6/17/26
The New Drugs column is coordinated by Ti昀昀any Phung, PharmD, CSP, Director of Specialty Pharmacy Value,
Trade Relations and Market Access, University of California–Davis. Other contributors to this installment were
Emily Hom and Christine Corpuz, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, University of California–San Francisco; Theresa Zheng, PharmD, PGY2 Pharmacy Resident,
University of California–Davis Health; Sarah Y. Kye, PharmD, PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, University of California–
Davis Health; and David G. Mitchell, PharmD, MBA, CSP, FCPhA, Assistant Chief Pharmacy O昀케cer, Specialty
Pharmacy/Home Delivery, University of California–Davis.
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vol. 73, no. 3 | California Pharmacist
