Monday, September 12, 2022, 3.10 p.m.
Director-General of the Medical Department Provide information on the effectiveness of farvipiravir in COVID-19 patients from studies abroad and in Thailand.
On September 12, 2022, Dr. Somsak Ankasil, director-general of the Department of Medical Services, said that due to the issue of presenting information that the drug farvipiravir was ineffective in treating COVID-19 patients, referring to study multi-institutional research 40 locations in North America1 (3 countries: USA, Mexico and Brazil) volunteered. Enrolled in a study of 1,187 subjects (70 per cent obese, 15 per cent elderly) in which farvipiravir was compared to the control group. However, this study used farvipiravir without adjusting the dose based on the patient’s weight. Almost all patients received the drug around day 3 after onset of symptoms. About one-third of the patients had previously been vaccinated or had had COVID-19, including the severity of the patient assessed by different criteria. with those used in Thailand In addition, treatment outcome reports are made by the patients themselves through the telephone system. which is not measured by specific equipment by medical personnel This may affect the measure of the effectiveness of farvipiravir.
In Thailand, a comparative study was conducted on the use of farvipiravir compared to the control group. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2022.2117092) There were a total of 93 COVID-19 patients in 3 hospitals (all under 60 years of age, without underlying medical conditions). 25 percent of the patients were obese). Half of the patients received the drug. Farvipiravir from the first day of symptom onset without anyone who has ever had COVID-19 and/or has been vaccinated. (Everyone had mild or moderate symptoms. There were no patients with severe symptoms in the study). Patients were treated and monitored in the hospital. and the effectiveness of farvipiravir was measured using the NEWS system (including respiratory rate blood oxygen saturation oxygen supply, temperature, systolic pressure heart rate level of consciousness), which must be assessed by a healthcare professional only. The patient’s feelings assessment was not used as a measure. Farvipiravir significantly improved the severity of symptoms assessed by NEWS in COVID-19 patients faster than the control group. (Half improved in 2 days with the drug, compared with 14 days in the control group). Both studies also found that farvipiravir did not reduce viral load or make the virus disappear as quickly. up in any way Its effectiveness was not seen when assessing patient symptoms such as fatigue, coughing, and farvipiravir was found to be safe even with asymptomatic elevated serum uric acid levels.
Dr. Somsak Ankasil added that We were unable to compare the effectiveness of farvipiravir from these two studies. Because the details and methods of study are different. Studies in the Americas show late onset of medication in at-risk patients. have severe symptoms and heavy weight without dose adjustment This may result in the ineffectiveness of the treatment or because of the evaluation partly based on the patient’s feelings. may cause the results of the study to be inconsistent. However, data from a Thai study found that farvipiravir improved symptoms in mild, low-risk COVID-19 patients faster. But the Thai study had no data on the effectiveness of farvipiravir among patients with pneumonia or reduction in mortality. The Medical Department welcomes comments. Suggestions from all sectors. The more empirical knowledge gained from the study will help to optimize treatment guidelines for patients with COVID-19 to have a good quality of life.