Experimental Treatment with Favipiravir for COVID-19: An Open-Label Control Study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2020.03.007
• Publication Date: 2020-03-18T05:17:07Z
• Authors: Qingxian Cai; Minghui Yang; Dongjing Liu; Jun Chen; Dan Shu; Junxia Xia; Xuejiao Liao; Yuanbo Gu; Qiue Cai; Yang Yang; Chenguang Shen; Xiaohe Li; Ling Peng; Deliang Huang; Jing Zhang; Shurong Zhang; Fuxiang Wang; Jiaye Liu; Li Chen; Shuyan Chen; Zhaoqin Wang; Zheng Zhang; Ruiyuan Cao; Wu Zhong; Yingxia Liu; Lei Liu
• Keywords: Favipiravir; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Open label

There is currently an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. The virus has been named severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the it causes 2019 (COVID-19). More than 16% patients developed distress syndrome, fatality ratio was 1%–2%. No specific treatment reported. Herein, we examined effects favipiravir (FPV) versus lopinavir (LPV)/ritonavir (RTV) for COVID-19. Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who received oral FPV (Day 1: 1600 mg twice daily; Days 2–14: 600 daily) plus interferon (IFN)-α aerosol inhalation (5 million international unit (IU) were included in arm this study, whereas treated LPV/RTV (Days 1–14: 400 mg/100 IFN-α IU control arm. Changes chest computed tomography (CT), viral clearance, drug safety compared between two groups. For 35 enrolled 45 arm, all baseline characteristics comparable arms. A shorter clearance median time found (4 d (interquartile range (IQR): 2.5–9) 11 (IQR: 8–13), P < 0.001). also showed significant improvement CT rate 91.43% 62.22% (P = 0.004). After adjustment potential confounders, significantly higher CT. Multivariable Cox regression that independently associated faster clearance. In addition, fewer adverse events open-label before-after controlled better therapeutic responses on terms progression These preliminary clinical results provide useful information treatments SARS-CoV-2 infection.