Anti-flu drug of Japan is effective in treating COVID-19 says China

Anti-flu drug of Japan is effective in treating COVID-19 patients says China. China medical authorities said a drug used in Japan to treat new strains of influenza appeared to be effective in coronavirus patients, Japanese media said on Wednesday.

An official at China’s science and technology ministry Zhang Xinmin, said favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Fujifilm, gave encouraging outcomes in clinical trials in Wuhan and Shenzhen with 340 patients.

Director of the ICU (intensive care unit) Zhang Xijing (C) and deputy director Song Liqiang make ward rounds at the Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province.

“It has a high degree of safety and is effective in treatment,” Zhang told reporters on Tuesday.

Results of Favipiravir drug

After taking this medicine in Shenzhen patients turned negative for the virus after 4 days after becoming positive. Compared the result with a median of 11 days for those who were not treated with the drug, public broadcaster NHK said.

Also, X-rays confirmed that the lung condition of the 91% patients improved because of the favipiravir, compared to 62% or those without the drug.

The drug is developed by Fujifilm Toyama Chemical. It is also known as Avigan in 2014, has declined to comment on the claims

Shares in the firm surged on Wednesday following Zhang’s comments, closing the morning up 14.7% at 5,207 yen, having briefly hit their daily limit high of 5,238 yen.

Favipiravir

Favipiravir, the active ingredient in a Japanese anti-flu medicine called Avigan. The drug is thought to block the virus from replicating in the body. This drug has the properties for quick recovery and it also improves the lung infection fast.

Clinical Trials

Doctors in Japan are using the same drug in clinical studies on coronavirus patients. Initially, they are doing trials on patients who have mild to moderate symptoms. They are hoping that it will prevent the virus from multiplying in patients.

According to the Japanese Health Ministry source, the drug is not that effective on patients with more severe symptoms. The drug is showing positive effects on patients with mild and moderate symptoms. “We’ve given Avigan to 70 to 80 people, but it doesn’t seem to work that well when the virus has already multiplied,” the source told the Mainichi Shimbun.

Combinations Under process

Various combinations are under process for the treatment of the coronavirus. one of the combinations is the HIV antiretrovirals lopinavir and ritonavir. But the same limitations is identified in studies involving coronavirus patients using this combination, the source added.

An oral medicine using favipiravir, developed by Hong Kong-based Sihuan Pharmaceutical, will also take a try on COVID-19 patients.

In 2016, amid Ebola virus, the Japanese government-supplied favipiravir as emergency aid to counter the virus outbreak in Guinea.

Need for Government Approval

Favipiravir requires government approval for full-scale use on COVID-19 patients. It is originally invented to treat flu.

Also, doses will be test in more COVID-19 patients by Hong Kong researchers. They claim that they will give their pill ‘for free’ if studies show it is safe.

A health official told the Mainichi the drug will get approve as early as May. “But if the results of clinical research delays, approval can also be delay.”

Current situation of Japan

The total coronavirus cases in Japan surpassed 10,000 including 222 deaths and 1,069 recovered.