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Clinical trials in Japan have shown favipiravir to be effective against Covid-19 symptoms, which is also very encouraging for national drug development, said Tamás Schanda, Vice Minister of State for Innovation and Technology (ITM), Secretary of Parliamentary and strategic state.
Already in the first wave of the coronavirus epidemic, ITM has launched more than 20 development programs to ensure effective control. According to preliminary clinical data available in April 2020, development of the Japanese broad-spectrum antiviral drug favipiravir began in Hungary under the leadership of the Center for Research in Natural Sciences (TTK) and the University of Pécs (PTE).
According to a recent scientific study in Japan in the last six months, Avigan tablets containing the active substance favipiravir prevented respiratory distress.
Along with this previously approved remdesivir, the efficacy of two antiviral drugs against Covid-19 infection has already been demonstrated, confirmed academic Miklós György Keserű (TTK), head of the consortium developing favipiravir. He also recalled that favipiravir is an oral drug that can help reduce the burden on the health system, ITM said in a statement.
Avigan has successfully prevented patients from deteriorating, and many of them have avoided intensive therapy, said academic Gábor L. Kovács (PTE), director of the HECRIN Consortium conducting favipiravir clinical trials in Hungary.
The consortium has obtained the necessary licenses for Avigan’s clinical trial in Hungary, so the use of the drug provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Japan can start in the clinics of medical universities and the National Institute of Pneumology. In this way, Hungarian patients can already receive a proven effective antiviral treatment, emphasizes the ITM statement.
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