RxNorm December 2020 Release

RxNorm December 2020 Release. NLM Tech Bull. 2020 Nov-Dec;(437):b5.

The RxNorm December monthly release became available for download on Monday, December 7, 2020. It includes the investigational monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab. UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI data were also deleted. See below for more details. 

NOTE: COVID-19 Vaccines

The RxNorm Content Team is closely monitoring the status of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and COVID-19 related medications. When they are approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the RxNorm Content Team will add standardized names and codes as quickly as possible. However, no set timeframe is available. For more information, visit the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page from the FDA.

RxNorm Data Changes

REMINDER: New Casirivimab and Imdevimab SCDs

Casirivimab and imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are to be administered together for the treatment of COVID-19. Casirivimab and imdevimab are each available in two different vial sizes.

NOTE: Currently, we do not have a National Drug Code (NDC) for a packaged product of casirivimab and imdevimab together. Therefore, generic pack (GPCK) names are not available at this time.

Here are the new casirivimab Semantic Clinical Drug (SCD) names, RxNorm Concept Unique Identifier (RXCUI), and NDC:

• SCD: 11.1 ML casirivimab 120 MG/ML Injection
• RXCUI: 2465246
• NDC: 61755002401

• SCD: 2.5 ML casirivimab 120 MG/ML Injection
• RXCUI: 2465248
• NDC: 61755002601

Here are the new imdevimab SCD names, RXCUI, and NDC:

• SCD: 11.1 ML imdevimab 120 MG/ML Injection
• RXCUI: 2465253
• NDC: 61755002501

• SCD: 2.5 ML imdevimab 120 MG/ML Injection
• RXCUI: 2465255
• NDC: 61755002701

Get more information about Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of casirivimab and imdevimab from the FDA:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment of COVID-19
• Emergency Use Authorization

See Investigational Drugs in RxNorm for more information about RxNorm’s policy change on investigational drugs from NLM.

UMLSAUI & UMLSCUI Attributes Deleted 

The UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI were deleted from the release files, specifically RXNSAT.RRF, RXNDOC.RRF in the full monthly release, and RXNSAT.RRF in the Current Prescribable Content Monthly release. Users can obtain the UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI directly from the Metathesaurus if needed. Also, UMLS Metathesaurus data is no longer updated as of the November 2020 monthly release. See the RxNorm Release Notes 11/02/2020 for more information.

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COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.

Get the latest public health information from CDC: https://www.coronavirus.gov
Get the latest research information from NIH: https://www.nih.gov/coronavirus