The drug “Favipiravir” is effective in treating a disease that causes a new coronavirus. This is confirmed by clinical research, said Zhang Xinmin, head of the Center for Biotechnology at the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC, at a press conference in Beijing on March 18.
Favipiravir has already undergone clinical trials that have shown good clinical efficacy in the treatment of a new type of coronavirus, ”he said. According to him, “patients treated with Favipiravir recovered faster, their lungs improved much faster.” “In terms of security, Favipiravir was approved for sale in Japan in 2014, and there have been no adverse reactions since it entered the market,” the head of the center said.
According to Zhang Xinmin, the Third People’s Hospital in Shenzhen City (southern Guangdong) conducted a study involving 80 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a new type of coronavirus, of which 35 received Favipiravir. According to observations, the test for coronavirus in those taking the drug showed a negative result already four days after the start of treatment, while the remaining patients in the control group took an average of 11 days to recover. In addition, almost all 35 patients showed markedly improved lung conditions. Among those who did not take “Favipiravir”, only in 62% of cases were marked improvements in the respiratory system.
Another study was conducted by staff at the Zhongnan Hospital at Wuhan University (Wuhan city, central Hubei province). 120 patients were monitored. Those who took the drug had less heat and less coughing.
“Given the safety, efficacy and availability of the drug, the researchers officially recommended Favipiravir to doctors, and also suggested that the drug be included in the treatment plan for coronavirus infection as soon as possible,” said Zhang Xinmin.
About the drug
Favipiravir was developed by the Japanese corporation Fujifilm Holdings for the treatment of influenza. Previously, it was effectively used to combat Ebola. In late February, Japanese Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Katsunobu Kato said that Japan intends to use Favipiravir to treat patients with coronavirus.
The outbreak of the new coronavirus disease in Central China at the end of 2019 spread to more than 130 countries and was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. According to the latest data, over 180 thousand people have become infected in the world, about 7 thousand have died. In Russia, 114 cases of infection have been registered.
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