Drug trial aims to clear COVID-19 virus faster

Lead researcher and Infectious Diseases specialist Dr James McMahon said the antiviral, Favipiravir, is being studied in multiple countries including the United States and Japan, where it was first developed to treat people with influenza.

"We think this could work for COVID-19," Dr McMahon said. There were two smaller trials in China which showed that Favipiravir cleared the virus more quickly and people with less severe infection recovered more quickly. 

“These studies were in a small number of people, so it needs to be studied further in a placebo controlled study. This means half the people get the drug and half get a sugar pill or placebo so it is a rigorous way of working out whether this drug helps people clear the virus and recover more quickly."

The VIRCO trial, which began this week, is currently enrolling symptomatic people with COVID-19 in the first five days of their illness to take part.

Eligible people with COVID can participate in this trial in hospital or at home. They will be required to take an oral medication twice a day for 14 days and do a swab of the back of their throat every two days.

“Importantly, Favipiravir has been given to thousands of people safely in trials studying other viral infections before COVID-19,” Dr McMahon said.

"This is why we think it is an excellent candidate to study not only for people in hospitals but also people in their homes with COVID-19. The study staff will closely monitor people while they are on the trial.”

To take part or find out more, visit the website.