Favipiravir and the Need for Early Ambulatory Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19)

Peter A McCullough, Peter A McCullough

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly clear that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), like most human viral infections, will require multiple drugs in combination to treat COVID-19 illness. In this issue of the Journal, Doi and colleagues describe successful treatment of patients with early COVID-19 with favipiravir, an oral polymerase inhibitor, to rapidly and substantially clear SARS-CoV-2 from nasal secretions irrespective if it was started relatively early or later within the first week of infection. These data support the concept that favipiravir could be paired with at least one more off-target antiviral agent (doxycycline, azithromycin, or ivermectin) followed by corticosteroids and antithrombotics to prevent COVID-19 hospitalization and death in those over age 50 and/or those with one or more comorbidities. Clinical trials and advanced practice should immediately pivot to combination/sequential drug therapy for ambulatory COVID-19 illness.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; ambulatory treatment; antiviral agents; favipiravir.

Copyright © 2020 American Society for Microbiology.

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Treatment algorithm for COVID-19-like and confirmed COVID-19 illness in ambulatory patients at home in self-quarantine. Yr, year; BMI, body mass index; Dz, disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; Mgt, management; Ox, oximetry. Reproduced from reference .

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Source: PubMed

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