After testing Favipiravir, an active ingredient in Japanese anti-flu medicine Avigan, on 340 patients in China, medical experts in China claim that the drug is clearly effective in treating the coronavirus.
According to the Chinese experts, the patients who were under the influence of Favipiravir recovered quicker and also displayed a higher lung improvement compared to that of patients who were under the standard treatment protocol. The Favipiravir is believed to restrict the virus from replicating itself inside the body.
After the Chinese medical experts’ approval, now it is reported that similar doses will be investigated in Hong Kong. As per the Hong Kong researchers, the drug will be injected to the COVID-19 patients for free provided the studies certify it to be safe.
What is Favipiravir?
Favipiravir has been an active ingredient in anti-flu drugs in fighting yellow fever, foot and mouth disease, and other similar viruses. Favipiravir was first given to 80 patients in Wuhan where the virus originated in December.
As per the medical professionals, the drug has so far been effective with no significant side effects and has helped patients to recover from the deadly coronavirus. Patients in Shenzhen who were given the drug tested negative for coronavirus only four days after testing positive for the same. Reportedly, there were no traces of the virus in their body. Without the drug, on average, so far the patients have recovered in a span of 11 days.
The X-rays too showed improved lung conditions in nine out of ten patients under Favipiravir as opposed to six out of ten without Favipiravir. Hong-Kong-based Sihuan Pharmaceutical is developing an oral medicine using Favipiravir and is likely to be tested on COVID-19 patients.
On the contrary, reports are emerging that several trials show that Favipiravir will not be effective on patients suffering from severe illness. This raises concerns about the absolute effectiveness of the drug.
As of now, there isn’t any bankable medicine to treat the coronavirus that has caused a major pandemic around the world. The virus has so far infected over 200,000 people out of which 7,900 have died.
The Chinese officials confirm that once the Favipiravir is approved, the tablets will be provided for free to patients combating the COVID-19.
