Efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment for COVID-19 from evidence in studies of SARS-CoV-2 and other acute viral infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis
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- RE: Favipiravir: Will it be a rescue therapy for COVID-19?Siddharth Madan [M.B.B.S, M.S, D.N.B (Ophthalmology), F.I.C.O]Posted on: 27 June 2020
- Posted on: (27 June 2020)Page navigation anchor for RE: Favipiravir: Will it be a rescue therapy for COVID-19?RE: Favipiravir: Will it be a rescue therapy for COVID-19?
- Siddharth Madan [M.B.B.S, M.S, D.N.B (Ophthalmology), F.I.C.O], Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Associated Hospitals, Department of Ophthalmology, Lady Hardinge Medical college and Associated Hospitals, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
Genome sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) identified the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor (RdRp) gene of the virus to be similar to those of SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Therefore, favipiravir is considered as a potential candidate for COVID-19 treatment. RdRp inhibitor favipiravir, a guanine analogue, exhibits in vitro activity against oseltamivir-resistant influenza A, B, and C viruses.1 Recently, clinical studies have demonstrated favipiravir to have promising effects in the reatment of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the drug was approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in China in March, 2020.2 Favipiravir has shown independent association with faster viral clearance.3 Randomized controlled trials (RCT) are under way to evaluate the efficacy of favipiravir plus interferon-α and favipiravir plus baloxavir marboxil.4
Competing Interests: None declared.References
- 1. Wei Liu, Pengxiang Zhou, Ken Chen, et al. Efficacy and safety of antiviral treatment for COVID-19 from evidence in studies of SARSCoV-2 and other acute viral infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ 2020;10.1503/cmaj.200647.
- XinhuaNet. Favipiravir shows good clinical efficacy in treating COVID-19: official. From. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/ 2020-03/17/c_138888226.htm. [Accessed 19 March 2020].
- Cai Q, Yang M, Liu D, Chen J, Shu D et al. Experimental treatment with favipiravir for COVID-19: an open-label control study. Engineering 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.03.007
- Jean S-S, Lee P-I, Hsueh P-R. Treatment options for COVID-19: The reality and challenges. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2020 Jun;53(3):436–43.
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