Favipiravir and its potentials in COVID-19 pandemic: An update

Dao Tam; Ahmad Qarawi; Mai Luu; Gehad Tawfik; Le Minh; Dao Tam; Ahmad Qarawi; Mai Luu; Morgan Turnage; Linh Tran; Linh Tran; Gehad Tawfik; Le Minh; Nguyen Huy; Kyoshi Kita; Kenji Hirayama; Tatsuo Iiyama

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Favipiravir and its potentials in COVID-19 pandemic: An update

Author: Dao TAM ¹ ; Ahmad QARAWI ¹ ; Mai LUU ¹ ; Gehad TAWFIK ¹ ; Le MINH ¹ ; Dao TAM ² ; Ahmad QARAWI ³ ; Mai LUU ⁴ ; Morgan TURNAGE ; Linh TRAN ⁵ ; Linh TRAN ⁶ ; Gehad TAWFIK ⁷ ; Le MINH ⁸ ; Nguyen HUY ⁹ ; Kyoshi KITA ⁹ ; Kenji HIRAYAMA ⁹ ; Tatsuo IIYAMA ¹⁰
Author Information

1. Online Research Club, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University
2. Asia Shine Trading and Service CO. LTD.
3. Essen Healthcare
4. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
5. Institute of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Duy Tan University
6. Faculty of Natural Sciences, Duy Tan University
7. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
8. Methodist Hospital
9. School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University
10. Department of International Trials, Center of Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Antiviral; Avigan; COVID-19; Efficacy; Favipiravir; Review; SARS-CoV-2
From: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2021;14(10):433-439
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of confirmed infections worldwide. This pandemic has prompted researchers to produce medications or vaccines to reduce or stop the progression and spread of this disease. A variety of previously licensed and marketed medications are being tested for the treatment and recurrence of SARS-CoV2, including favipiravir (Avigan). Favipiravir was recognized as an influenza antiviral drug in Japan in 2014, and has been known to have a potential in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, in addition to its broad therapeutic safety scope. Favipiravir was recently approved and officially used in many countries worldwide. Our review provides insights and up-to-date knowledge of the current role of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 infection, focusing on preclinical and ongoing clinical trials, evidence of its efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19, side effects, anti-viral mechanism, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug in the treatment of COVID-19. Due to its teratogenic effects, favipiravir cannot be offered to expectant or pregnant mothers. The practical efficacy of such an intervention regimen will depend on its dose, treatment duration, and cost as well as difficulties in application.