Remdesivir for COVID-19 and acute kidney injury: disproportionality analysis of data from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System

BackgroundEvidence about remdesivir-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) among patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was controversial.AimTo investigate the signal of disproportionate reporting of remdesivir-related AKI in COVID-19 patients over time with data from US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.MethodAdverse events in COVID-19 patients reported between April 2020 and September 2022 were included. Reporting odds ratios (RORs) of AKI and renal disorders (a more sensitive definition for AKI) were estimated to compare remdesivir with other medications prescribed in comparable situations of COVID-19.ResultsDuring the entire study period, significant signals were identified for remdesivir-related AKI (ROR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.83-2.18) and renal disorder (ROR 2.35, 95% CI: 2.17-2.54) when compared to all comparable drugs. However, in the third quarter of 2022 (the most recent quarter) signals disappeared as the ROR of AKI was 1.50 (95% CI 0.91-2.45) and ROR of renal disorder was 1.69 (95% CI 1.06-2.70). Number of signals in sensitivity analyses and the proportion of AKI in remdesivir-associated events decreased over time.ConclusionIn COVID-19 patients, we observed diminishing signals of remdesivir-associated AKI over time and no significant signal in the most recent quarter, suggesting remdesivir might not be nephrotoxic.

Automated summary

Using data from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, this study investigated the disproportionate reporting of remdesivir-associated AKI in COVID-19 patients over time. The results showed that while there was a significant association between remdesivir and AKI and renal disorder compared to other medications during the entire study period, the signals disappeared in the most recent quarter of 2022, suggesting remdesivir may not be nephrotoxic.