What do we know about the use of the drug avifavir to treat COVID-19?
What do we know about the use of the drug avifavir to treat COVID-19?
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Avifavir is an antiviral medication primarily used to treat severe cases of influenza. This medication is currently being studied in several countries as a potential experimental treatment for COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to determine whether or not Avifavir is an effective treatment for the virus. Recently in Russia, the health ministry approved the medication's use as a COVID-19 treatment by using an accelerated, short-term form of a clinical trial with fewer people involved than traditional studies would normally require. However, this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal so the data, methods, and other study characteristics have yet to be critiqued or evaluated by other scientists. Though this research is still occurring in the country, Russia's preliminary results suggested Avifavir might help reduce the number of days people are infected with the virus and shorten the duration of time people experience high-grade fevers while sick. In September 2020, a publication from India reviewed clinical trials in China and Japan, along with the on-going trials in Russia and other on-going studies in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and India. The researchers acknowledged that Avifavir does not have as much supportive data to back its use compared to other drugs, but that it may be emerging as a medication that is worth considering in mild to moderate cases. The preliminary results from a study in India suggest that Avifavir may help reduce the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover, and lead to a two-day shorter viral shedding period when patients are infectious. Until more studies are completed and a greater amount of data can demonstrate Avifavir's efficacy and safety, we do not have enough information to determine whether or not this medication can help treat COVID-19.
Avifavir is an antiviral medication primarily used to treat severe cases of influenza. This medication is currently being studied in several countries as a potential experimental treatment for COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to determine whether or not Avifavir is an effective treatment for the virus. Recently in Russia, the health ministry approved the medication's use as a COVID-19 treatment by using an accelerated, short-term form of a clinical trial with fewer people involved than traditional studies would normally require. However, this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal so the data, methods, and other study characteristics have yet to be critiqued or evaluated by other scientists. Though this research is still occurring in the country, Russia's preliminary results suggested Avifavir might help reduce the number of days people are infected with the virus and shorten the duration of time people experience high-grade fevers while sick. In September 2020, a publication from India reviewed clinical trials in China and Japan, along with the on-going trials in Russia and other on-going studies in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and India. The researchers acknowledged that Avifavir does not have as much supportive data to back its use compared to other drugs, but that it may be emerging as a medication that is worth considering in mild to moderate cases. The preliminary results from a study in India suggest that Avifavir may help reduce the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover, and lead to a two-day shorter viral shedding period when patients are infectious. Until more studies are completed and a greater amount of data can demonstrate Avifavir's efficacy and safety, we do not have enough information to determine whether or not this medication can help treat COVID-19.
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What our experts say
Avifavir is an antiviral medication primarily used to treat severe cases of influenza. This medication is currently being studied in several countries as a potential experimental treatment for COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to determine whether or not Avifavir is an effective treatment for the virus.
Recently in Russia, the health ministry approved the medication's use as a COVID-19 treatment by using an accelerated, short-term form of a clinical trial with fewer people involved than traditional studies would normally require. However, this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal so the data, methods, and other study characteristics have yet to be critiqued or evaluated by other scientists. Though this research is still occurring in the country, Russia's preliminary results suggested Avifavir might help reduce the number of days people are infected with the virus and shorten the duration of time people experience high-grade fevers while sick.
In September 2020, a publication from India reviewed clinical trials in China and Japan, along with the on-going trials in Russia and other on-going studies in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and India. The researchers acknowledged that Avifavir does not have as much supportive data to back its use compared to other drugs, but that it may be emerging as a medication that is worth considering in mild to moderate cases. The preliminary results from a study in India suggest that Avifavir may help reduce the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover, and lead to a two-day shorter viral shedding period when patients are infectious.
Until more studies are completed and a greater amount of data can demonstrate Avifavir's efficacy and safety, we do not have enough information to determine whether or not this medication can help treat COVID-19.
Avifavir is an antiviral medication primarily used to treat severe cases of influenza. This medication is currently being studied in several countries as a potential experimental treatment for COVID-19, but we do not yet have enough evidence to determine whether or not Avifavir is an effective treatment for the virus.
Recently in Russia, the health ministry approved the medication's use as a COVID-19 treatment by using an accelerated, short-term form of a clinical trial with fewer people involved than traditional studies would normally require. However, this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal so the data, methods, and other study characteristics have yet to be critiqued or evaluated by other scientists. Though this research is still occurring in the country, Russia's preliminary results suggested Avifavir might help reduce the number of days people are infected with the virus and shorten the duration of time people experience high-grade fevers while sick.
In September 2020, a publication from India reviewed clinical trials in China and Japan, along with the on-going trials in Russia and other on-going studies in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and India. The researchers acknowledged that Avifavir does not have as much supportive data to back its use compared to other drugs, but that it may be emerging as a medication that is worth considering in mild to moderate cases. The preliminary results from a study in India suggest that Avifavir may help reduce the time it takes for COVID-19 patients to recover, and lead to a two-day shorter viral shedding period when patients are infectious.
Until more studies are completed and a greater amount of data can demonstrate Avifavir's efficacy and safety, we do not have enough information to determine whether or not this medication can help treat COVID-19.
Context and background
Avifavir as a potential COVID-19 treatment has been emerging in visibility given that delivery of the drug to Russian hospitals began in June, following the approval of the Russian Ministry of Health. The approval follows promising but limited studies on Avifavir's accuracy in Russia, carried out in partnership of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and the ChemRar Group. Studies on the drug have also been conducted in China — with seemingly promising results yet severe study limitations — as well as in the US, Italy, Japan and India. Data on the drug's efficacy for COVID-19 is still inconclusive.
In September 2020, RDIF announced that it has administered more than 60,000 doses of the drug in Russia and the surrounding region since June 2020, and that more doses will be delivered to 17 countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Trends in Russia's COVID-19 data, and in particular, additional evidence, are needed to determine efficacy.
Avifavir as a potential COVID-19 treatment has been emerging in visibility given that delivery of the drug to Russian hospitals began in June, following the approval of the Russian Ministry of Health. The approval follows promising but limited studies on Avifavir's accuracy in Russia, carried out in partnership of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, and the ChemRar Group. Studies on the drug have also been conducted in China — with seemingly promising results yet severe study limitations — as well as in the US, Italy, Japan and India. Data on the drug's efficacy for COVID-19 is still inconclusive.
In September 2020, RDIF announced that it has administered more than 60,000 doses of the drug in Russia and the surrounding region since June 2020, and that more doses will be delivered to 17 countries in Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Trends in Russia's COVID-19 data, and in particular, additional evidence, are needed to determine efficacy.
Resources
- RDIF and ChemRar announce first interim results of clinical trials of Favipiravir drug’s effectiveness in coronavirus therapy (RDIF)
- Breaking views - Corona Capital: Tech diversity, CNN’s middle age (Reuters)
- Russia Rolls Out First Approved COVID-19 Drug as Infections Pass 500,000 (NYT)
- 60,000 doses of avifavir, a COVID-19 treatment, to be delivered in June (EPR)
- Favipiravir: A new and emerging antiviral option in COVID-19 (Medical Journal Armed Forces India)
- RDIF and ChemRar to supply Avifavir to 17 countries (PR Newswire)
- RDIF and ChemRar announce first interim results of clinical trials of Favipiravir drug’s effectiveness in coronavirus therapy (RDIF)
- Breaking views - Corona Capital: Tech diversity, CNN’s middle age (Reuters)
- Russia Rolls Out First Approved COVID-19 Drug as Infections Pass 500,000 (NYT)
- 60,000 doses of avifavir, a COVID-19 treatment, to be delivered in June (EPR)
- Favipiravir: A new and emerging antiviral option in COVID-19 (Medical Journal Armed Forces India)
- RDIF and ChemRar to supply Avifavir to 17 countries (PR Newswire)
