FabiFlu/Favipiravir: COVID-19 Medicine Approved in India As Well As Many Countries in The World

As we all know Covid-19 Pandemic is increasing very fast and the world seems helpless about is. So, in this situation a company name Glenmark announced in 20th June 2020 that they became the first company to get regulatory approval from The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO) to manufacture and marketing of Favipiravir, for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. It will be available from next week in hospitals and chemist shops. It is the first medicine in India to be approved and commercially available for treatment of COVID-19.

The Trade name for this medicine will be FabiFlu.

This medicine was first developed in Japan in 2014 and sold as an antiviral medicine to to treat influenza in Japan. The Generic name of this medicine is Avifavir.

Will it work in all type of COVID-19 Cases?

According to to manufacturer Glenmark this medicine will work to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 cases.

As it's necessary to treat the rapid growing COVID-19 cases in India The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation gave fast-track permission to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals to manufacture and sell Favipiravir.

Cost:

The price of the drug will be ₹3,500 for a pack of 34 tablets. That means each tablet will cost ₹103. and it will be available at chemist shops and hospitals from next week.

How Can You Buy This?

It's a Prescription Drug. You can't buy it yourself. Also Doctors will need a patient's consent before prescribing the medicine. 

According to Glenmark, patients with diabetes and heart disease who have mild or moderate symptoms also can use this drug and they are claiming that it will start rapid reduction of viral within four days. 

How Effective Favipiravir is?

Japan did a research on a group of more than 2200 COVID-19 patient and it showed that 88% patient rapidly reduced viral load by 4 days.

Russia and China also did research and have shown positive results using this drug.

20 to 90 years aged patient showed improvement.

As of 21st June 18 clinical trials are in progress to test Favipiravir and approx 3,000 patients are involve across India,UK, France, Italy. USA, Canada, China and other countries.

Italy, China, Bangladesh officially approved this medicine for experimental use on COVID-19 Patients.

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How Favipiravir Stops SARS COV2?

This medicine basically blocks the reproduction of SARS COV2 and thus reduce the viral load.

Is there any Side-Effect?

Yes, there are side effect of this drug. This drug work as a Tratogen. Teratogen is a subtance which transfers from mother to fetus and causing birth defect. And this drug can stops the cell growth fetus. That is why this drug should be avoided by pregnant women. 

Benefit:

The main benefit with this drug is its an oral drug and started manufactured in India.

Another drug named Umifenovir approved by The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for clinical trial to treat COVID-19. Drugs like ACQH and Mycobacterium( anti-Leprosy) are in trial also.

So, Lets Hope For The Best. Stand Together Fight Together.