the Expert commented on the TASS publications in the Japanese media – they announced today that clinical trials of this drug for indications for the treatment of the novel coronavirus conducted in Japanese clinics, did not demonstrate its effectiveness.
the Situation is interesting because initially, “favipiravir” (trade name “Avigan”) was developed in Japan and used to treat severe forms of influenza. The first observation of its experimental use in COVID-patients was encouraging. Therefore, in Russia was developed by our own drugs with the same active ingredient. They also passed a clinical study and reviews of Russian doctors has shown good results – the drug, as previously reported, inhibits the multiplication of virus in the body, but because in its application the disease occurs in a mild form and recovery is accelerated. The Ministry of health has registered the domestic preparations “of favipiravir” ( in Russia they are called “Aviamir and Coronaves”) and allowed them to use COVID-offices.
“In the preparation of the provisional methodological recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of new coronavirus infection COVID-19 Ministry of health based on data from clinical trials conducted on the territory of the Russian Federation. As a result of these studies “favipiravir” shown to be effective. However, note that these differences in results can be associated with the design of the study, the used dosages of the drug, population characteristics, including individual genetic factors,” explained Vladimir closets.
Another reason for the discrepancies in the results of the testing of drugs in Russia and Japan may be associated with a small number of patients who received a medicine in Japanese hospitals. In clinical trials conducted by the University of health Fujita, involved 89 patients from March to may.
“We are unable to establish a significant difference. Perhaps if the tests involved more than 200 people, we would have been able to establish more significant differences, but, taking into account the epidemiological situation in Japan, it is difficult to increase the number of participants,” – quoted by the Japanese Kyodo University Professor Ehai Dpi.
