Safety and efficacy of favipiravir for the management of COVID-19 patients: A preliminary randomized control trial

S M Abdur Rahman; Ahmedul Kabir; A B M Abdullah; Md Billal Alam; Khan Abul Kalam Azad; Md Titu Miah; Syed Ghulam Mogni Mowla; Sudip Ranjan Deb; Mohammad Robed Amin; Muhammad Asaduzzaman

doi:10.1016/j.clinpr.2022.100145

Safety and efficacy of favipiravir for the management of COVID-19 patients: A preliminary randomized control trial

Clin Infect Pract. 2022 Jul:15:100145. doi: 10.1016/j.clinpr.2022.100145. Epub 2022 May 12.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
² Department of Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, and Hospital, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
³ Faculty of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Mugda Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Kuwait Bangladesh Maitry Govt. Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus disease, commonly called COVID-19, has already killed millions of lives. Our study aimed to identify a safe and right drug for the management of such globally threatened COVID-19.

Methods: This preliminary double-blinded randomized controlled trial was done among 57 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the early stage of their illness. Of them, 29 patients received Favipiravir (FVP) and the remaining 28 patients received a placebo under the standard of care. Among the patients, 4 from Favipiravir (FVP) group and 3 from the placebo group were discontinued. The patients were observed regularly for a period of 10 days.

Result: In our study, the FVP treated group showed accelerated viral clearance compared to the placebo-treated group. Assessment of chest X-ray showed remarkable improvement of pheumonia patient in group A compared to Group B. Hematological and Biochemical parameters such as total WBC count, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts were examined. No significant differences in the hematological parameters such as WBC count, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in Group A and Group B patients. Liver transaminases levels were also stable in FVP treated group (average ALT ranges 39.4-46.2; AST 28.2-32.8).

Conclusion: The drug Favipiravir displayed remarkable improvements in the clinical conditions and recovery of COVID-19 patients at the early stages of their infections.

Keywords: Bangladesh; COVID-19; FVP, Favipiravir; Favipiravir; Infectious disease; SARS-CoV-2.