Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, sold under the brand name Paxlovid, is a co-packaged oral medication used as a treatment for COVID-19.[7][9][14] It contains the antiviral medications nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.[7][9]

Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir
Paxlovid blister pack, partially opened to reveal one ritonavir and two nirmatrelvir tablets
Combination of
NirmatrelvirAntiviral drug
RitonavirAntiviral drug
Clinical data
Trade namesPaxlovid
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa622005
License data
Pregnancy
category
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
KEGG

In December 2021, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was granted emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19.[11][15] It is not authorized for the pre-exposure or post-exposure prevention of COVID-19 or for initiation of treatment in those requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19.[10] It was approved in the United Kingdom later that month,[16] and in the European Union and Canada in January 2022.[12][17][18]

Medical uses

The co-packaged medication is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people aged twelve years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms (88 lb) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.[9][10] If administered within five days of symptom onset, the efficacy of the co-packaged medication against hospitalization or death in unvaccinated adults is about 88% (95% CI, 7594%).[11]

As of May 2022, the effectiveness among vaccinated people and the effectiveness against long COVID were unknown.[19] The drug does not prevent infection in people who live with an infected person.[20]

In the European Union, the co-packaged medication is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk for progressing to severe COVID-19.[12]

Contraindications

The co-packaged medication is not authorized for the pre-exposure prophylaxis or post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 nor for treatment in those requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19, nor for use for longer than 5 consecutive days.[10] The drug is contraindicated in those with hypersensitivity to the two main components, and in those with severely reduced kidney or liver function.[11]

During pregnancy

The co-packaged medication is not recommended during pregnancy and in women who can become pregnant and who are not using contraception.[21] Breastfeeding should be interrupted during treatment.[21] These recommendations are because laboratory studies in animals suggest that high doses of the co-packaged medication may affect the growth of the fetus.[21]

There are no human data on the use of nirmatrelvir during pregnancy related to the risk of birth defects, spontaneous abortions (miscarriage), or adverse outcomes. There are also no human data on the presence of nirmatrelvir in human milk, its effects on milk production or the infant. In pregnant rabbits, a reduction in fetal body weight was observed with systemic exposure ten times higher than the authorized human dose of the co-packaged medication. A temporary reduction in body weight was observed in the offspring of nursing rats.[11]

Interactions and side effects

Co-administration with certain drugs may have serious effects and may sometimes be fatal.[22] The drug is contraindicated when co-administered with certain drugs, such as drugs dependent on CYP3A for removal, for which a raised concentration results in serious reactions, or those with potent CYP3A inducers, for which reduced blood concentration of the two main components may result in loss of effect against the virus and possible resistance, among others. Co-administration also affects the concentration of several drugs, sometimes requiring changing the dose or careful monitoring.[11][21] Many of these drugs are widely prescribed to people at high risk from COVID-19.[23] With the extension of the emergency authorization in August 2022, the FDA updated a checklist to help evaluate potential drug interactions and other patient factors before prescribing Paxlovid, including more than 120 drugs which are either contraindicated, should be avoided or held from use, or require dose adjustments or special monitoring.[24][25]

Adverse events of the co-packaged medication, regardless of causality, observed in the phase II-III EPIC-HR study included: dysgeusia (4.8–6%), diarrhea (3–3.9%), vomiting (1.3%), hypertension (1%), and myalgia (1%).[11][21]

There is no specific antidote for overdose with the co-packaged medication. Treatment consists of supportive measures such as monitoring of vital signs and observation of clinical status.[11][21]

Rebound

An additional analysis of the original EPIC-HR clinical trial data (Delta variant) showed that about 2% of both the treatment and placebo groups experienced a symptomatic rebound after the 5 day treatment, meaning they felt ill again and tested positive again (antigen test and PCR test) after testing negative. This is important, because people with rebound cannot go back to work or school. The exact cause is unknown, but there is speculation that it is due to reservoirs in tissues that are not reached by the medication, or reinfection. In May 2022, Pfizer suggested repeating the treatment, but the FDA said there has been no evidence of benefit.[26][27]

In a 2022 US case report of 10 people with rebound while the Omicron variant has been circulating, viral load during relapse was comparable to levels during initial infection and high enough to cause secondary transmission. Also, sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in three patients showed that rebound was a relapse with the same strain as it was not due to a mutation during treatment nor an infection with a different viral strain. As of September 2022, it is unknown how common rebound is among people after Paxlovid treatment, but study author David Ho thinks it is not uncommon.[28] President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Anthony Fauci,[26] Peter Hotez and Rochelle Walensky [29] are known to have experienced rebound. As of September 2022, Pfizer is studying the phenomenon in a new trial it calls EPIC-SR (standard risk) while the omicron variant is circulating.[28]

As of July 2022, no Paxlovid drug resistant SARS CoV2 has been observed in clinical context.[30] The engineering of a nirmaltrevir-resistant chimera of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus under laboratory conditions was published without formal peer review in July 2022.[31]

Manufacturing

Pfizer selected its largest oral tablet factory in Freiburg as the launch facility for the manufacturing of the co-packaged medication.[32] Nirmatrelvir, the novel portion of the co-packaged medication, was first developed in the United States and was initially manufactured in small amounts in Groton, Connecticut, to support clinical trials,[33] but the Freiburg facility in Germany was responsible for figuring out how to mass-produce the co-packaged medication on an industrial scale.[32] Pfizer selected another factory in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, to assist the Freiburg factory with packaging tablets into blister packs.[34]

History

The primary data supporting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir are from EPIC-HR, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial studying nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the treatment of non-hospitalized symptomatic adults with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.[9][10][35] Participants were adults 18 years of age and older with a prespecified risk factor for progression to severe disease or were 60 years and older regardless of prespecified chronic medical conditions.[10] All participants had not received a COVID-19 vaccine and had not been previously infected with COVID-19.[10] The main outcome measured in the trial was the proportion of people who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 or died due to any cause during 28 days of follow-up.[10] Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir significantly reduced the proportion of people with COVID-19 related hospitalization or death from any cause by 88% compared to placebo among participants treated within five days of symptom onset and who did not receive COVID-19 therapeutic monoclonal antibody treatment.[10] In this analysis, 1,039 participants had received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, and 1,046 participants had received placebo and among these participants, 0.8% who received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir were hospitalized or died during 28 days of follow-up compared to 6% of the participants who received placebo.[10]

In September 2021, Pfizer began a phase II/III trial of nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir.[36]

In December 2021, Pfizer completed a Phase III study of nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir,[37] and on 14 December, Pfizer announced that the Phase II/III study of nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir showed a reduced risk of hospitalization or death.[38] In December 2021, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was granted emergency use authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of COVID-19.[11] On 31 December, the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the use of nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir for adults with mild to moderate infection and at high risk of their illness worsening.[39][16]

The efficacy of the co-packaged medication against hospitalization or death in high-risk adults when administered within five days of symptom onset is about 88% (95% CI, 7594%).[11][40]

In 2022, the PANORAMIC trial started testing the effectiveness of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for treating COVID-19 infections.[41]

Pfizer also conducted a Phase II/III study in standard-risk patients called EPIC-SR, which began in December 2021. This study did not find a statistically significant reduction in the risk of hospitalization or death (treatment: 5/576; placebo: 10/569), nor did it achieve its primary goal of sustained alleviation of symptoms. However, it did find a 62% decrease in COVID-19–related medical visits (p=0.023), which was consistent with the 67% reduction from the EPIC-HR (high-risk patients) study. Pfizer discontinued enrollment in the study because of the low rate of hospitalization and death in this population.[42][43]

Society and culture

On 16 November 2021, Pfizer submitted an application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization for the co-packaged medication.[44][45][46] The authorization was granted on 22 December 2021, for adults and children ages 12 and older who are infected with Covid and at risk.[10][14][47] The European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued guidance about the use of the co-packaged medication for the treatment of COVID-19 in the EU on 16 December 2021.[48] The Israeli Ministry of Health approved the use of the co-packaged medication on 26 December 2021.[49] South Korea approved the use of the co-packaged medication on 27 December 2021.[50]

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted conditional approval of the co-packaged medication in December 2021.[39][16] Health Canada approved the use of the co-packaged medication in January 2022.[17][6][51][52] The Singapore Health Sciences Authority approved the use of the co-packaged medication for treating adults in February 2022.[53] In February 2022, China approved the medication for the treatment of adults who have mild to moderate COVID-19 and are at a high risk of progressing to a severe condition.[54]

Economics

In December 2021, the German government ordered 1 million doses of, but by August 2022, only around 43,000 had been delivered by wholesalers to pharmacies. In Germany, paxlovid is by prescription through physicians only and German physicians have been reluctant to prescribe it. Hence health minister Karl Lauterbach decided that general practitioners can stock 5 Paxlovid courses in their practice and dispense it directly to patients, that a prescription would be remunerated with 15 euros and that every nursing home should appoint a vaccination officer as well as a Paxlovid officer. As of August 2022 the treatment guidelines, which German family doctors follow, have not been updated since February 2022 and recommend Paxlovid only in unvaccinated risk patients, i.e. in only a few people.[55]

As of April 2022, the United States ordered a total of 20 million Paxlovid courses.[56] As of July 2022, the United States Department of Health and Human Services set up at least 2,200 sites where people could receive Paxlovid as soon as they test positive for the virus, including pharmacies, community health centers and long-term care facilities.[47] In July 2022, the US FDA allowed state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe it to people with COVID-19 at high risk of progressing to severe disease.[57]

Comparison to ivermectin

The co-packaged medication is sometimes falsely claimed to be a repackaged version of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin, which has been promoted as a COVID-19 therapeutic. Such claims, sometimes using the nickname "Pfizermectin",[58] rely on superficial similarities between the mechanism of action of both drugs[59] and the claim that Pfizer is suppressing the benefits of ivermectin.[60]

References

  1. "Paxlovid APMDS". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 21 January 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  2. "AusPAR: nirmatrelvir/ritonavir". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  3. "TGA eBS - Product and Consumer Medicine Information Licence". Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  4. "Product Monograph: Paxlovid" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2022.
  5. "Summary Basis of Decision (SBD) for Paxlovid". Health Canada. 23 October 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. "Paxlovid". Health Canada. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. "Summary of Product Characteristics for Paxlovid". Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  8. "Regulatory approval of Paxlovid". Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  9. "Paxlovid- nirmatrelvir and ritonavir kit". DailyMed. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  10. "FDA Authorizes First Oral Antiviral for Treatment of COVID-19". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Press release). 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. Fact sheet for healthcare providers: Emergency Use Authorization for Paxlovid (PDF) (Technical report). Pfizer. 22 December 2021. LAB-1492-0.8. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
  12. "Paxlovid EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 24 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022. Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged.
  13. "Paxlovid". Union Register of medicinal products. 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  14. "Frequently Asked Questions on the Emergency Use Authorization for Paxlovid for Treatment of COVID-19" (PDF). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  15. "Pfizer Receives U.S. FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Novel COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatment" (Press release). Pfizer. 22 December 2021. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021 via Business Wire.
  16. "Oral COVID-19 antiviral, Paxlovid, approved by UK regulator" (Press release). Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  17. "Health Canada authorizes Paxlovid for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at high risk of developing serious disease". Health Canada (Press release). 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  18. "Paxlovid". COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  19. "The U.S. Is Doing Too Little to Monitor Paxlovid Use". The Washington Post. 4 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  20. "Pfizer says COVID treatment Paxlovid fails to prevent infection of household members". Reuters. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  21. "EMA issues advice on use of Paxlovid (PF-07321332 and ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19: rolling review starts in parallel" (Press release). European Medicines Agency (EMA). 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022. Text was copied from this source which is copyright European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged.
  22. "Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid)". National Institutes of Health. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  23. "Pfizer antiviral pills may be risky with other medications". ABC News. 26 December 2021. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  24. "PAXLOVID Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist and Drug Interaction Tool". www.fda.gov. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  25. "FACT SHEET FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS: EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR PAXLOVID". FDA.gov. September 2022.
  26. "Pfizer Says Patients Who Relapse After Covid Pill Can Repeat Treatment". Bloomberg. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  27. "FDA Updates on Paxlovid for Health Care Providers". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 4 May 2022. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  28. Rubin, Rita (28 June 2022). "From Positive to Negative to Positive Again—The Mystery of Why COVID-19 Rebounds in Some Patients Who Take Paxlovid". JAMA. 327 (24): 2380–2382. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.9925. ISSN 0098-7484. PMID 35675094. S2CID 249465757.
  29. "CDC Director Rochelle Walensky tests positive for Covid again after taking a course of the antiviral pill Paxlovid". NBC. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. Derek Lowe (11 July 2022). "Paxlovid Resistance: Is It Just a Matter of Time Now?". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. Heilmann, Emmanuel; Costacurta, Francesco; Volland, Andre; Laer, Dorothee von (4 July 2022). "SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro mutations confer resistance to Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) in a VSV-based, non-gain-of-function system". bioRxiv: 2022.07.02.495455. doi:10.1101/2022.07.02.495455.
  32. Schmidt B (1 December 2021). "Neues Corona-Medikament von Pfizer wird in Freiburg hergestellt" [Pfizer corona medicine is being manufactured in Freiburg]. Badische Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  33. Green R (23 December 2021). "Pfizer scientists in Groton played a critical role in development of new COVID-19 pill". The Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  34. Paci M (17 December 2021). "Covid, ad Ascoli l'unico stabilimento in Italia che produrrà il farmaco antivirale. Pfizer pensa a cento assunzioni" [Covid, in Ascoli the only plant in Italy that will produce the antiviral drug. Pfizer thinks to hire one hundred]. Corriere Adriatico (in Italian). Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  35. CDER Scientific Review Supporting EUA (PDF) (Report). U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  36. "Pfizer begins dosing in Phase II/III trial of antiviral drug for Covid-19". Clinical Trials Arena. 2 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  37. Clinical trial number NCT04960202 for "EPIC-HR: Study of Oral PF-07321332/Ritonavir Compared With Placebo in Nonhospitalized High Risk Adults With COVID-19" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  38. "Pfizer Announces Additional Phase 2/3 Study Results Confirming Robust Efficacy of Novel COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Treatment Candidate in Reducing Risk of Hospitalization or Death" (Press release). Pfizer. 14 December 2021. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021 via Business Wire.
  39. Aripaka P (31 December 2021). "Britain approves Pfizer's antiviral COVID-19 pill". Reuters. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  40. Hammond J, Leister-Tebbe H, Gardner A, Abreu P, Bao W, Wisemandle W, et al. (February 2022). "Oral Nirmatrelvir for High-Risk, Nonhospitalized Adults with Covid-19". The New England Journal of Medicine. 386 (15): 1397–1408. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2118542. PMC 8908851. PMID 35172054.
  41. Robinson J (April 2022). "PANORAMIC trial to enlist 17,500 more patients as researchers add second COVID-19 antiviral". The Pharmaceutical Journal. doi:10.1211/PJ.2022.1.138635. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  42. "Pfizer Reports Additional Data on PAXLOVID™ Supporting Upcoming New Drug Application Submission to U.S. FDA". New York. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  43. Griffin, Riley; Muller, Madison (15 June 2022). "Paxlovid Doesn't Work for Healthier Patients, Pfizer Says". Time. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  44. "Pfizer Seeks Emergency Use Authorization for Novel COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Candidate" (Press release). Pfizer. 16 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021 via Business Wire.
  45. Kimball S (16 November 2021). "Pfizer submits FDA application for emergency approval of Covid treatment pill". CNBC. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  46. Robbins R (5 November 2021). "Pfizer Says Its Antiviral Pill Is Highly Effective in Treating Covid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  47. Spencer Kimball (3 May 2022). "Paxlovid prescriptions to treat Covid increased tenfold in U.S. since late February, Pfizer says". CNBC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  48. "EMA issues advice on use of Paxlovid (PF-07321332 and ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19: rolling review starts in parallel" (Press release). European Medicines Agency (EMA). 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  49. "The Use of Pfizer's Anti-Viral Drug for the Treatment of COVID-19 Has Been Approved". Ministry of Health (Press release). Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  50. "S.Korea authorises emergency use of Pfizer's oral coronavirus treatment". Reuters. 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  51. "Paxlovid, Pfizer's oral COVID-19 pill, approved in Canada". Global News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  52. Weeks C (17 January 2022). "Health Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill Paxlovid". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  53. Chelvan, Vanessa Paige (3 February 2022). "Singapore approves Pfizer's Paxlovid pill for COVID-19 treatment in adult patients". CNA. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  54. "China conditionally approves Pfizer's Covid treatment pill Paxlovid". The Guardian. Reuters. 12 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  55. Hackenbroch, Veronika (25 August 2022). "Der Paxlovid-Skandal: Warum verweigern deutsche Ärzte so vielen Patienten den Virenkiller?". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  56. The White House (26 April 2022). "FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Increases Access to COVID-19 Treatments and Boosts Patient and Provider Awareness". The White House. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  57. Stephenson, Joan (19 July 2022). "FDA Authorizes Pharmacists to Prescribe Oral Antiviral Medication for COVID-19". JAMA Health Forum. 3 (7): e222968. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2022.2968. ISSN 2689-0186. S2CID 250704928.
  58. Bloom J (2 December 2021). "How Does Pfizer's Paxlovid Compare With Ivermectin?". American Council on Science and Health. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  59. von Csefalvay C (27 November 2021). "Why Paxlovid is not Pfizermectin". Chris von Csefalvay: Bits and Bugs. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  60. Gorski D (15 November 2021). "Pfizer's new COVID-19 protease inhibitor drug is not just 'repackaged ivermectin'". Science-Based Medicine. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.