World found COVID-19 medicine?
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विश्व को मिला COVID-19 दवा?
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Favipiravir is an antiviral drug that has a generally positive outlook all across the world, thanks to its effectiveness against the RNA-based influenza virus. The drug has been approved for use against COVID-19 not just in India, but also in Russia and parts of the Middle East.
Previously, on the 22nd of June, 2020, Glenmark won an approval from the DGCI to treat COVID-19 patients using the same antiviral drug, favipiravir. Under the name FabiFlu. This approval has been based on clinical evidence demonstrating promising results by the drug, resulting in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infections responding positively to the treatment.
Apart from favipiravir, another popular anti-viral drug that has been approved for treatment for COVID-19 patients is remdesivir. Unlike favipiravir, which has been recommended for mild to moderately infected patients, remdesivir has been approved to be administered to COVID-19 patients on oxygen support, i.e. severely affected by the disease.
Licenses have been provided to manufacture and distribute remdesivir and favipiravir because small, controlled trials of 100 to 200 people had showcased positive results. Everything seemed okay, which is why the DCGI had approved the distribution of these drugs. In a way, administering favipiravir and remdesivir to affected patients across countries is a seemingly huge trial being held.
Favipiravir is an antiviral medication that is commonly used in Japan for the treatment of influenza. It is classified as a pyrazinecarboxamide chemically, and selectively inhibits the “influenza viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase”. It was discovered by Toyoma Chemical Company Limited a Japanese chemical manufacturing company.
While the chemical was initially approved for therapeutic use against resistant strains of the influenza virus, there is a huge margin for the drug to plant its presence against fighting SARS-CoV-2 – the novel strain of virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apart from influenza and COVID-19, favipiravir has also been investigated for treating other life-threatening pathogens, including the Ebola and Lassa viruses.
The Drug Controller General of India has approved the use of favipiravir – an antiviral drug commonly used for treating influenza – for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in India. The drug regulator has also granted the license to manufacture and export this drug to Biophore India Pharmaceuticals, a Hyderabad-based medicine and medical equipment manufacturing organization.
Other Indian drugmakers developing or selling favipiravir include Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, Cipla Limited, privately held Brinton Pharma and Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Limited.
Even as doctors are divided over the benefits of Favipiravir for mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, a slew of generic launches
