3 May 2022 - - In an article published this month in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, US-based observational studies operator Pregistry shares findings from its international study of treatments for COVID-19 used during pregnancy, the company said.

The article titled "COVID-19 pharmacotherapy utilization patterns during pregnancy: International Registry of Coronavirus Exposure in Pregnancy (IRCEP)" is designed to guide future studies aimed at examining the safety of these treatments when used prenatally.

Pregistry is in the development and conduct of observational studies during pregnancy.

In the study of 5,780 pregnant women with COVID-19 from 47 countries, Pregistry collected information on the utilization of medications to treat COVID-19.

Women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy are at increased risk of developing severe illness and experience a higher rate of preterm births than pregnant women who are not infected.

The use of innovative or repurposed therapies to treat COVID-19 patients is widespread; however, there are very limited data regarding the patterns of use and safety of most of these therapeutics when used during pregnancy.

The most frequently used therapeutics include azithromycin, steroids, interferon, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine, anticoagulants, monoclonal antibodies, and remdesivir.

According to research from Pregistry, use of therapies increased with disease severity for most medications.

Azithromycin use among participants with severe COVID-19 (27.4%) was markedly higher than among mild cases, as was use of anticoagulants (9.1% severe, 1.4% mild), steroids (15.3% severe, 1.2% mild), acetaminophen (49.5% severe, 31.0% mild), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (8.1% severe, 1.7% mild). Differences in drug utilization by country were also observed.

Russia accounted for 97.8% of self-reported use of interferon medications, while 52.6% of women who used remdesivir were from the US India had the highest reported use of monoclonal antibodies.

Pregistry is currently conducting the COVID-19 International Drug Pregnancy Registry (COVID-PR).

The objective of the COVID-PR is to evaluate obstetric, neonatal, and infant outcomes among women treated with monoclonal antibodies or antiviral drugs indicated for mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 from the first day of the last menstrual period to end of pregnancy.

For monoclonal antibodies, the exposure period also includes 90 days prior to the first day of the LMP. Pregnant and recently pregnant women who experienced COVID-19 during pregnancy are invited to enroll here.

Pregistry is in the development and conduct of observational studies to assess the safety of medications and vaccines when used during pregnancy.

With over 70 pregnancy specialists, covering a range of clinical, preclinical, safety, regulatory, marketing, and IT needs, the focus is on making sure that both mother and baby are healthy and safe and that prescribers have the information needed to be able to explain the potential benefits and risks of medications during pregnancy.

Pregistry also offers pregnant people a safe space to connect with a global community of experts and peers at no cost.