Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has informed pharmacies that the government’s stockpile of COVID-19 antiviral medicine,Paxlovid, will expire on 31 May 2025, with the final delivery of ordered stock due by 30 April 2025.
Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir 150mg tablets and Ritonavir 100mg tablets) will be removed from Part VIIIC of the May 2025 Drug Tariff, following confirmation from NHS England (NHSE) that all remaining government-procured supplies will expire at the end of May.
Pharmacies have been notified that the last day to dispense Paxlovid from the government’s stock is 24 May 2025, to ensure patients can complete the five-day treatment course before the expiry date.
“After this date, any expired stock must be disposed off in the usual manner,” the CPE notice reads.
This follows the recent deletion of Lagevrio (Molnupiravir 200mg capsules) from Part VIIIC of the April 2025 Drug Tariff, after the government’s stock expired on 31 March 2025.
From 1 May 2025, commercial stock of Paxlovidwill be available for pharmacies to order from Pfizer via Alliance Healthcare, but these will be charged at the full NHS list price.
Pharmacies dispensing NHS prescriptions for Paxlovid (from May) or Lagevrio (from April) will be reimbursed at the NHS list price as listed in the dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d).
During the pandemic, the UK government centrally procured COVID-19 antivirals to protect those at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill.
Both Paxlovid and Lagevrio were supplied free of charge to community pharmacies, with a nominal reimbursement amount of £2.50 per pack, as outlined in Part VIIIC of the Drug Tariff– Arrangements for payment of products supplied free of charge in England.
As pandemic arrangements have ended, the government will not be procuring further supplies.
Therefore, once the existing centrally held stock is exhausted or expires, pharmacies will need to order COVID-19 antivirals in the usual way, and these will no longer be free of charge.
Pharmacy owners who are unable to purchase Paxlovid before May 2025 (or Lagevrio before April 2025) without incurring costs may request a review, CPE said.
“Where pricing issues are identified, any adjustments will be applied by the NHS Business Service Authority (NHSBSA) to the pharmacy contractor’s account at the earliest possible payment date,” the CPE stated.
