Title:Favipiravir in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Is it Worth it?
Volume: 25
Issue: 14
Author(s): Gaber El-Saber Batiha*, Mohamed Moubarak, Hazem M. Shaheen, Ali M. Zakariya, Ibe M. Usman, Abdur Rauf, Achyut Adhikari, Abhijit Dey, Athanasios Alexiou*, Helal F. Hetta, Ali I. Al-Gareeb and Hayder M. Al-kuraishy
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour
22511, AlBeheira, Egypt
- Department of Science and Engineering,
Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Australia and AFNP Med, Austria
Keywords:
Favipiravir, Covid-19, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, viral genome, influenza, phosphorylation.
Abstract:
Favipiravir is a potential antiviral drug undergoing clinical trials to manage various viral
infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Favipiravir
possesses antiviral properties against RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, these
viruses do not have authorized antiviral drugs for the management of diseases resulting from their
infection, hence the dire need to accentuate the discovery of antiviral drugs that are efficacious and
have a broad spectrum. Favipiravir acts primarily by blocking inward and outward movements of
the virus from cells. Favipiravir is a prodrug undergoing intracellular phosphorylation and ribosylation
to form an active form, favipiravir-RTP, which binds viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
(RdRp). Considering the novel mechanism of favipiravir action, especially in managing viral
infections, it is vital to pay more attention to the promised favipiravir hold in the management
of SARS-CoV-2, its efficacy, and dosage regimen, and interactions with other drugs.
In conclusion, favipiravir possesses antiviral properties against RNA viruses, including COVID-
19. Favipiravir is effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection through inhibition of RdRp. Pre-clinical
and large-scalp prospective studies are recommended for efficacy and long-term safety of favipiravir
in COVID-19.
