(09 April 2020) Favipiravir- Higher clinical recovery rate (day-7) seen in patients

Favipiravir- A Potential Antiviral for COVID-19?

https://www.jwatch.org/na51293/2020/04/09/favipiravir-potential-antiviral-covid-19

Researchers review the evidence for testing various drugs in treating COVID-19. In an open-label trial in Shenzhen, China, of oral favipiravir (1600 mg twice daily for 1 day, then 600 mg twice daily) plus inhaled interferon, patients had median shedding of virus of 4 days and radiographic improvement was seen in 91% of favipiravir-interferon treated subjects.  A prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized trial in China comparing favipiravir with umifenovir (Arbidol), a membrane-fusion inhibitor active against influenza viruses, was recently reported (MedRxiv 2020 Mar 27; [e-pub]). It demonstrated a higher clinical recovery rate at day 7 in those on favipiravir among moderately ill patients but not among mildly or severely ill patients.