RxNorm November 2020 Release

RxNorm November 2020 Release. NLM Tech Bull. 2020 Nov-Dec;(437):b1.

The RxNorm November monthly release became available for download on Monday, November 2, 2020. It includes a remdesivir NDC change, and the UMLS Metathesaurus data is no longer updated in RxNorm. See below for more details. 

RxNorm Data Changes

Remdesivir NDC Changes

The remdesivir National Drug Code (NDC) changes announced for the October 2020 release was reversed. The NDCs 61958290101 and 61958290201 are now associated with generic remdesivir-related Semantic Clinical Drug (SCD) names. Also, the branded drug Veklury have new NDCs, specifically 61958290102 & 61958290202.

Below is a summary of the remdesivir-related product names, RxNorm Concept Unique Identifiers (RXCUIs), and NDCs in the RxNorm November 2020 release.

SCD: remdesivir 100 MG Injection

• RXCUI: 2284960
• NDC: 61958290101

SCD: 20 ML remdesivir 5 MG/ML Injection

• RXCUI 2367758
• NDC: 61958290201

SBD: remdesivir 100 MG Injection [Veklury]

• RXCUI: 2395502
• NDC: 61958290102

SBD: 20 ML remdesivir 5 MG/ML Injection [Veklury]

• RXCUI 2367758
• NDC: 61958290202

UMLS Metathesaurus Data No Longer Updated in RxNorm

The Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Metathesaurus data in RxNorm will no longer be updated beginning with the November 2020 release. In other words, the UMLS atom unique identifier (UMLSAUI) and UMLS concept unique identifier (UMLSCUI) attributes are frozen with the UMLS 2020AA release values in the RXNSAT.RRF file. Users can obtain current UMLS AUIs and UMLS CUIs directly from the Metathesaurus if needed. The UMLSCUI and UMLSAUI are expected to be deleted in the RxNorm December 2020 release (see below).

Also, the UMLS Metathesaurus version information are frozen with the year 2020 while the RxNorm version dates continue to change for several data values in the RxNorm terminology (SAB=RXNORM). 

Below are the impacted data values.

• In the RXNSAB.RRF file: VSAB, SVER, IMETA, SCIT
• In the RXNATOMARCHIVE.RRF file: VSAB
• In the RXNCUI.RRF file: VER_START, VER_END

Notice of Upcoming RxNorm Data Changes

As a courtesy to users, this section provides advance notice of possible upcoming RxNorm data changes. More information about each change will be provided or repeated in the future. Please note that planned data changes and timelines may change if issues arise.

• CORRECTION: UMLSAUI & UMLSCUI Attributes will be Deleted in the RxNorm December 2020 Release
• The UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI are expected to be deleted from RxNorm beginning with the December 2020 release, rather than the November 2020 release as previously announced. Users can obtain the UMLSAUI and UMLSCUI directly from the Metathesaurus if needed.