How to access Mavyret from Dubai, the named-patient import pathway, 2026
*Clinically reviewed by Mohammad Ali, MD (US-trained physician, Chief AI Officer, Reserve Meds). Last reviewed 2026-05-13.
A UAE patient with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1 through 6 in adults and paediatric patients aged 3 years and older, with or without compensated cirrhosis may receive a prescription for Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir) from their treating hepatologist or infectious disease physician. Mavyret is FDA-approved in the United States and manufactured by AbbVie. It is a pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral fixed-dose combination administered by oral tablet. Local availability of Mavyret in Dubai can be inconsistent: the drug may not be on every specialty pharmacy's standing formulary, the specific indication may not match what is locally registered, or the strength required may be back-ordered. When that happens, a named-patient import pathway through MoHAP remains a legitimate route for the patient whose physician has already prescribed the drug.
This guide explains the pathway, the documentation your physician needs, typical costs and indicative timing, and where Reserve Meds fits in.
The clinical situation
Mavyret is a pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral fixed-dose combination. Mechanism: glecaprevir inhibits HCV NS3/4A protease and pibrentasvir inhibits HCV NS5A; the fixed-dose combination is pan-genotypic. Dosing: three 100 mg/40 mg tablets (300 mg glecaprevir and 120 mg pibrentasvir) once daily by mouth with food, for 8 to 16 weeks depending on treatment history and cirrhosis status, per FDA labeling. Baseline workup per FDA labeling includes HCV RNA quantification, genotype where available, fibrosis assessment, hepatitis B serologies (HBsAg, anti-HBc), and renal and hepatic function. The FDA boxed warning covers hepatitis B virus reactivation in HCV/HBV co-infected patients. Other important warnings include hepatitis B virus reactivation in HCV/HBV co-infected patients, and not recommended for patients with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C). Your specialist will discuss the risk-benefit profile and schedule monitoring before initiating therapy.
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Is Mavyret legally importable into Dubai?
Yes, through the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) named-patient and personal-use import framework, coordinated with the treating facility's pharmacy. Dubai has an established pathway for specialty medicines approved by reference authorities (US FDA, EMA, MHRA) but not stocked or registered for the specific indication locally.
The MoHAP named-patient route allows a UAE-licensed physician to request import of a medicine when: (a) the medicine is approved by a recognised reference authority, (b) no clinically equivalent locally registered alternative is suitable for the patient's indication and history, (c) the treating physician takes clinical responsibility for use, and (d) chain of custody is documented from the US source to the administering facility. Applications are typically filed through the dispensing institution's import pharmacy on the physician's behalf, with approval issued on a per-patient, per-cycle quantity basis.
How the pathway works, step by step
- Consultation with your treating specialist. The prescribing decision is clinical. Your specialist documents the indication, prior therapies where relevant, and rationale for Mavyret.
- Baseline screening. HCV RNA quantification, genotype where available, fibrosis assessment, hepatitis B serologies (HBsAg, anti-HBc), and renal and hepatic function are confirmed and documented.
- MoHAP named-patient application. Your specialist or the facility's import pharmacy files the application with clinical rationale, patient reference, product strength, quantity requested, and chain-of-custody plan.
- US-side sourcing. Reserve Meds coordinates with our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner to secure product from AbbVie's authorised distribution under DSCSA chain-of-custody.
- Arrival and first dose. The dispensing pharmacy releases product against the physician's prescription, and your specialist initiates therapy.
What documentation your physician needs
Your physician will typically need to provide:
- A clinical rationale letter confirming diagnosis, prior therapies where relevant, and Mavyret as the indicated next step
- Verification of their UAE medical licence
- A patient identifier, anonymised reference where privacy is preferred
- Documented pre-treatment screening consistent with FDA labeling (see above)
- The planned dosing regimen (three 100 mg/40 mg tablets (300 mg glecaprevir and 120 mg pibrentasvir) once daily by mouth with food, for 8 to 16 weeks depending on treatment history and cirrhosis status, per FDA labeling)
- A monitoring plan covering HBV reactivation risk screen, fibrosis stage, and prior treatment history
Reserve Meds provides a physician documentation kit tailored for HCV direct-acting antiviral therapies, including the templates MoHAP reviewers commonly request.
Typical costs and indicative timing
Reserve Meds gives you a drug-only reference range plus a transparent delivered quote at intake. As an illustrative composite case, the US cash-pay reference range for a typical 8 to 16 week treatment course of Mavyret sits in an indicative 2026 band of approximately USD 13,000 to 26,000. International logistics, MoHAP documentation handling, and concierge coordination add incremental cost. The delivered quote we issue at intake shows each line separately.
Indicative timing for first dose after cohort intake opens is approximately 2 to 5 weeks from the moment a complete application is submitted, assuming the documentation package is clean on first pass. Refills ship on a rolling cadence aligned to the dosing schedule.
Where Reserve Meds fits in
Reserve Meds is a US-based concierge coordinator for cross-border specialty medicine. For Mavyret specifically, we provide:
- Sourcing. Through our US-licensed specialty wholesale partner, operating under DSCSA chain-of-custody from manufacturer to export.
- Documentation. Regulatory package tailored for your physician and for MoHAP review, including HCV direct-acting antiviral class templates.
- Logistics. Internationally tracked shipment to your named dispensing facility with tamper-evident packaging.
- Concierge case lead. A named point of contact for your family and your physician across the full case arc.
We are a coordinator. We are not the prescriber, not a pharmacy, and not a dispensing facility. All clinical decisions remain with your treating specialist, and dispensing sits with the licensed UAE pharmacy of record. Reserve Meds operates on cash-pay only and does not bill insurance.
Frequently asked
Is this legal in Dubai? Yes, when executed through the MoHAP named-patient and personal-use framework with appropriate documentation, clinical rationale, and a licensed dispensing facility. The pathway is routinely used across oncology, rare disease, and immunology at the UAE tertiary centers.
What about the boxed warning? The FDA boxed warning on Mavyret covers hepatitis B virus reactivation in HCV/HBV co-infected patients. Your specialist performs the risk-benefit assessment, schedules monitoring, and counsels the patient per labeling. Reserve Meds does not make that clinical judgement, your physician does.
Will my private health insurance cover this? Cash-pay is the default posture. Cash-pay is the default posture in Dubai; some employer plans cover specialty imports case-by-case. We supply documentation for your submission but do not process insurance claims.
What if my physician has not filed a named-patient request before? Named-patient import is an institutional process most major UAE tertiary centers (Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Tawam Hospital Al Ain, American Hospital Dubai, and Mediclinic City Hospital) have encountered. Our documentation kit is written for first-time applicants and tracks what MoHAP reviewers commonly ask for.
Next step
For Mavyret coordination in Dubai, start your case at the portal or message us on WhatsApp. Our concierge case lead will respond within 24 hours.
Composite case examples. This content is for general information and does not constitute medical advice.