China Approves Favipiravir (Avigan) As An Experimental Drug To Treat Coronavirus
Source:Thailand Medical News Feb 22, 2020 4 years, 9 months, 4 weeks, 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
China authorities have narrowed down the
antiviral Favipiravir (
Avigan) as one of the three drugs that is showing efficacy against the
coronavirus in ongoing human trials. (
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-020-00016-0)
Favipiravir, also known as T-705 or
Avigan, is an
antiviral drug that was originally developed by Toyama Chemical of Japan (owned by Fujifilms) with activity against many RNA viruses.
The
antiviral is a pyrazinecarboxamide derivative that has been demonstaretd to be effective against influenza viruses, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus as well other flaviviruses, arenaviruses, bunyaviruses and alphaviruses. Activity against enteroviruses and Rift Valley fever virus has also been demonstrated and it has limited efficacy against Zika virus. In mouse models, it was also proven to be effective against Ebola.
However,
favipiravir has not been shown to be effective in primary human airway cells, casting doubt on its efficacy in influenza treatment.(
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105843/)
In China, the generic version licensed to Zhejiang Hisun Pharmaceutical, with the brandname
Favilavir has been approved as an investigational therapy to treat the
coronavirus.
The National Medical Products Administration approval document said the company met requirements to manufacture the generic version of
Favipiravir but requires to further work on pharmacy and clinical pharmacology research.
Favilavir is approved for marketing in the treatment of influenza .
According to China National Center for Biotechnology Department headDr Zhang Xinmin,
Favilavir demonstrated encouraging profile with mild adverse reactions in
coronavirus patients in trials in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
The company also received a clinical trial approval by the administration, saying the product is approved for clinical trials on indication for novel
coronavirus pneumonia.
Dr Zhang Xinmin, head o
f the China National Center for Biotechnology Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said at a news conference on Saturday that in human trials conducted in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, the drug has shown promising results against the novel coronavirus and mild adverse reactions in patients.
Thailand Medical News however warns that many media are reporting that the drug has been approved to treat the
coronavirus and also been approved for commercial production and sale as a treatment for the
coronavirus.
This is fake news and not true as the drug is only approved as an experimental drug and still a lot of studies is needed about its efficacy and also toxic reactions and other side effects.
Many pharma and virology experts are warning its still too soon to accept
Favipiravir as a confirmed treatment protocol till further studies and clinical trials are done. Furthermore they warn that the new SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus is constantly evolving and to date many of the initial
antivirals and treatment protocols are no longer working as the
coronavirus had developed a resistance to them. Furthermore due to the high toxicity of some of these
antivirals, they actually aggravated conditions in patients manifesting severe conditions and also lead to kidney and heart failure in certain trials. Most of these initial antivirals were only effective in those with initial and mild conditions of the Covid-19 disease that is caused by the new SARS-CoV-2
coronavirus.
For more updates on the
coronavirus, keep check at :
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
