Favipiravir as a treatment choice for COVID19

A good news has been come out of a Chinese site as I already posted in Facebook.

Favipiravir turned out to be effective for SARS CoV2, the pathogen of the novel Corona virus infection, as they say. No notable side effects. They are including it to the treatment protocol.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/17/c_138887971.htm

Favipiravir is a potent antiviral agent discovered by Toyama Chemical Co. in 2014, presently FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co. It inhibits RNA dependent RNA polymerase and is shown to be effective against wide range of RNA viruses. Working on the gene itself, it is expected to develop less chances of treatment resistance not like the most preceding anti Inluenza drugs. It has been deemed a key medicine for bird Influenza viruses, another example of RNA viruses. Since SARS CoV2 belongs to RNA virus group, they have started using it to COVID19 cases in China. A Chinese Pharmaceutical Co. seemed to have obtained the production license from FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co.

I would emphasize that early diagnosis, as the general rule in infectious disease treatment says, is mandatory to get a good result from this drug. It is surprising there are a number of "professionals" still insisting the RT PCR tests are of limited value so that they should not give it even to the suspicious cases. Of course, the government and MHLW are the source of such wrong opinion. They would pretend to have the number of infected cases much lower than real. In Japan, only 5% of the suspected cases could be tested for diagnosis. It is a non sense and even inhumane. It is irrational from the epidemiological stand point. Since this drug turns out to be a curative one, those test denial people have lost their standpoint. 

I hope this drug will be given to many patients in early stage. Hopefully, the other candidates for the treatment will bring good results in the very near future as well.