Potential good news story brewing over in China & Japan with a Flu treatment called Favipiravir/Avigan, which seems to be effectiveness in helping with recovery from COVID-19, at least in milder cases.
- In Shenzhen city in China, a clinical trial involving 80 participants demonstrated better chest improvement in those treated with Favipiravir, noted Zhang.
- Also, patients treated with the drug tested negative for the genomic trace of the virus in lesser time, compared to those not administered with the drug.
- The drug was able to shorten the recovery time from 11 days to four days for mild and regular cases.
- Another trial in Wuhan showed that the drug shortened fever duration from an average of 4.2 days to 2.5 days.
- Zhang said that Favipiravir has been effective, without any obvious side-effects, in helping coronavirus patients recover.
In Japan it seems they are currently conducting their own trials and it will be interesting to see if they confirm that Chinese findings.
With a vaccine still likely a year from being clinically available, successful drug therapies could really help take the sting out of COVID-19’s ability to spread and reduce strain on healthcare facilities.
Thanks for your time.
