From the company that brought the first generic version and Gilead Sciences licensed Remdesivir to the country, Biocare announced that it has received the marketing authorization to distribute Favipiravir for hospital use or institutional set-up use through compassionate special permit.
Originally developed by Toyama Chemical company, Favipiravir is an oral antiviral approved for the treatment of influenza in Japan.
Currently, Favipiravir is now approved for use against Covid-19 in China, Russia, and India, and is purportedly in use in at least 30 countries.
“The drug had received emergency use authorization in early June for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19,” said Biocare Lifesciences managing director Dileep Tiwari. “With Favipiravir’s promising clinical evidence, we hope that patients on mild to moderate infection will improve and recover faster, thereby reducing length of stay in hospital and burden on medical professionals.”
Favipiravir has to be given at an early stage and is a potential game changer as it can be given in tablet form and thus is easy to administer.
“Favipiravir can directly prevent the virus from replicating itself in cells, with a mechanism of reaction similar to Remdesivir. But while Remdesivir requires intravenous use, Favipiravir can be taken orally,” said Business unit head Ronald Palacio. “And according to clinical management protocols, a patient has to take up to 122 tablets in a two-week treatment course.”