Clinical Tuberculosis and Epidemiology Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center (CRDRC), National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2021 Aug;19(8):1029-1037. doi: 10.1080/14787210.2021.1866545. Epub 2020 Dec 29.
At this time, there is no specific therapeutic or vaccine for treatment of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hence, available drugs for treatment of other viral infections may be useful to treat COVID-19.
The focus of the current review was studying the main characteristics of favipiravir and its usefulness to treat COVID-19. An electronic search was done by using Pubmed and Google scholar.
Based on the mechanism of action and safety of favipiravir, the drug may be a promising candidate for compassionate use against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Favipiravir has a wide range of activity against many single-stranded RNA viruses, is well tolerated in humans and has a high barrier to resistance. However, high doses of the agent are necessary to obtain an efficient antiviral activity. Favipiravir is teratogen in pregnant women and associated with the hyperuricemia. Therefore, the administration of the drug should be well controlled. Investigating the antiviral prophylactic potency of favipiravir and search for its pro-drugs and/or analogs showing improved activity and/or safety are critical.
目前，尚无针对严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）的特效治疗药物或疫苗。因此，可用于治疗其他病毒感染的现有药物可能对治疗 COVID-19 有用。
本次综述的重点是研究法匹拉韦的主要特征及其在治疗 COVID-19 方面的作用。通过使用 Pubmed 和 Google scholar 进行电子检索。
基于法匹拉韦的作用机制和安全性，该药可能是治疗 SARS-CoV-2 感染的一种有前途的候选药物。法匹拉韦对许多单链 RNA 病毒具有广泛的活性，在人类中耐受性良好，且耐药性高。然而，需要高剂量的药物才能获得有效的抗病毒活性。法匹拉韦对孕妇有致畸作用，并与高尿酸血症有关。因此，药物的使用应得到良好的控制。研究法匹拉韦的抗病毒预防作用，并寻找其前药和/或类似物，以提高活性和/或安全性至关重要。
