Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

September 22, 2020

A Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label Trial of Early versus Late Favipiravir in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

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  • There was no significant difference in the rate of SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance between patients receiving early treatment with the anti-viral agent favipiravir and those receiving late treatment in a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter trial at 25 hospitals across Japan (aHR=1.42; 95%CI 0.76–2.62). Favipiravir did not significantly improve viral clearance as measured by RT-PCR by day 6, but was associated with a shorter fever duration. The most common adverse event associated with favipiravir was elevated serum uric acid, which occurred in 84% of participants and was transient. No patients experienced progression of disease or death.

Doi et al. (Sept 21, 2020). A Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label Trial of Early versus Late Favipiravir in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.01897-20