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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 1, 2014 11:45 AM IST
A month ago, Japan responded to the urgent need of containing the Ebola outbreak in West African countries and offered its anti-influenza drug call Avigan to treat infected patients. The drug is developed by Japan s Fujifilm Holdings Corp s subsidiary Toyama Chemicals Co., Ltd.
The company announced that a French nurse infected with the Ebola virus disease, was administered the drug at a hospital in France. Avigan was provided as an emergency measure upon consultations with the Japanese government, in response to the request by French government agency, French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM).
The French nurse was diagnosed as Ebola virus disease while engaging in healthcare work in Monrovia, Liberia's capital, and was repatriated to France for treatment. ANSM stated that a treatment combining Avigan and another experimental drug has started on September 19. The patient is taking Avigan as of September 25. Fujifilm and Toyama Chemical will continue to work together with relevant pharmaceutical authorities, international organizations and infectious disease specialists to explore the potential of leveraging Avigan for patients with the Ebola virus disease.
Here are some facts about Favipiravir you should know:
It is an anti-viral drug: Also known be the code name T-705; favipiravir is active against several viruses including influenza virus, yellow fever virus, falvivirus and West Nile virus, Western equine encephalitis virus and noroviruses that have RNA as their genetic material. In Japan, the drug was approved as an anti-influenza drug in 2014 to stop on-going influenza pandemics.
Prevents multiplication of viral particles: The drug inhibits replication of viral genetic material by blocking the enzyme RNA polymerase that is required for multiplication of viral particles after they infect the cells. It also has an inhibitory action against different strains of influenza virus that are currently resistant to other antiviral drugs. (Here are Ebola virus signs and symptoms you need to watch out for!)
With inputs from ANI
Photo source: Getty images
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