New, old Covid 19 hopefuls?

The Japanese Fujifilm group has started a new study on the treatment of Covid 19 patients with its flu drug Avigan. However, it has strong side effects.

From Angela Göpfert, tagesschau.de No question about it: digital photography has many advantages. There is no longer any need to buy, change or develop films, and the result can be viewed immediately. And yet there are quite a few photo lovers who miss the charm of analog photography. Both amateurs and professionals then and now really only had the choice between Fujifilm or Kodak. While Eastman Kodak had to file for bankruptcy in 2012, Fujifilm, which was founded in Tokyo in 1934, was able to assert itself in the market – not least thanks to various other pillars, for example in medical technology and pharmaceutical research.

Fujifilm has long since ceased to manufacture only film rolls. One of the pharmaceutical products from Fujifilm has been causing new bursts of hope, but also disappointment, at least since the outbreak of the corona pandemic: Avigan. A Fujifilm subsidiary originally developed the drug as a flu drug.

Shortened illness time

The new Phase III study, launched today, is to review the effectiveness of Avigan in treating Covid 19 patients who are over 50 years old or who are at high risk of a severe course. This is a so-called double-blind study; so neither the investigator nor the patient know whether the drug or a placebo is being administered in a specific case. Fujifilm had already presented the results of a phase III clinical study with 156 Covid-19 patients on Avigan in autumn 2020. Accordingly, the duration of treatment when using Avigan was reduced by three days.

Virus replication is blocked

But how does Avigan actually work? The active ingredient, favipiravir, inhibits the viral “copying machine”, the so-called RNA polymerase. This blocks virus replication. At first glance, it is similar to Remdesivir – the first corona drug that was approved in Germany. However, according to new studies, remdesivir cannot completely stop viral reproduction. Avigan has demonstrated effectiveness against a wide range of viral pathogens, including many types and subtypes of influenza viruses. In 2014 it was successfully used against Ebola. In 2016, the Japanese government delivered the funds to Guinea as emergency aid to fight the Ebola epidemic. Medical professionals assume that the drug can also inhibit coronavirus RNA polymerase. After all, like influenza viruses, these belong to the RNA viruses.

In most countries only reserve drug

Today, Avigan is already approved as a Covid-19 treatment in some countries such as Russia, India, and Indonesia. In many other countries, it is only used as an emergency drug for sick people for whom there is no other treatment option. In Germany, according to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, it can be used as part of an individual healing attempt. By the way: Even when it was originally used as a flu remedy, Avigan has not yet been able to meet the high expectations. Hopes that Avigan could even replace the well-known flu drug Tamiflu should not come true. This is not least due to the serious side effects of the drug. Avigan has been shown to be “teratogenic” in animal experiments: It led to fetal malformations and could even be detected in sperm. Avigan is therefore only used as a reserve drug against influenza in his home country Japan, so it is only used when alternative drugs fail.