The Japanese group Fujifilm has presented positive clinical results for treating patients with Covid-19 with a drug used to treat severe forms of influenza.
- Patients who took Avigan have almost 3 days less recovery time.
- This medicine is not recommended for pregnant women because it affects the development of the fetus.
- The researchers hope for a commercial authorization for the month of October.
A new hope of treatment for patients with Covid-19 is born in Japan. The Fujifilm Group has revealed that Avigan, a drug used to treat severe forms of influenza, has reduced “statistically significant” healing time, he said in a press release published this Wednesday, September 23. These results led the group, at the request of the Japanese government and other countries, to increase the production of Avigan.
Nearly 3 days less recovery
The anti-influenza antiviral effect of the drug has led researchers to conduct trials in patients with Covid-19. “Approved for manufacture and sale in Japan as an influenza antiviral, Avigan selectively inhibits RNA polymerase necessary for influenza virus replication. Due to this mechanism of action, Avigan is expected to have an antiviral effect on the novel coronavirus, as they are RNA viruses of the same type as influenza viruses.,” the researchers wrote in the statement.
The results presented by the researchers are those of the phase 3 clinical trial conducted in Japan. It involved 156 patients, divided into two groups: one taking Avigan, the other a placebo. Those who took the anti-flu saw their healing time reduced compared to the other group, by 11.9 days and 14.7 days respectively. The end of convalescence is defined as the moment when the coronavirus was no longer detected via PCR tests, accompanied by a decrease in symptoms. In addition, no side effects were noted during the clinical trial.
A commercial authorization expected for October
However, this medication is not recommended for pregnant women. Animal studies have shown that it affects fetal development. The group’s objective is now to apply for a commercial authorization in Japan “from october”. For this, a “detailed data analysis” collected will be conducted by the researchers. In addition, the drug has already been available since 2014 to treat severe cases of influenza.
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