The Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) will start a trial on Favipiravir (trade name: Avigan). It is an antiviral used in Japan since 2014 against the flu. From the first studies on still very limited samples, it seems to have some effectiveness against the Covid-19 coronavirus, at least when the symptoms are still mild.
IT ALL STARTED WITH AN ONLINE VIDEO
In recent days, Avigan's fame has spread rapidly online: not on the basis of scientific evidence, but through the most classic word of mouth from social networks. It all started with the video of a Roman pharmacist who lives in Japan, which went viral in a few hours.
However, this is not a hoax, because the possible effectiveness of Avigan in an anti-Covid function is also discussed in international articles. However, there is no certainty: these are only hypotheses yet to be confirmed. Aifa itself stressed that there is "scarce scientific evidence on the efficacy" of Avigan and that to date "there are no published clinical studies relating to the efficacy and safety of the drug in the treatment of the Covid-19 disease".
AVIGAN: GREEN LIGHT FOR EXPERIMENTATION IN ITALY
However, the enthusiasm generated by the online video and the requests from the governors of Lombardy and Veneto, who said they were ready to start the trial immediately, have increased the pressure on the Medicines Agency. And so, on Monday came the announcement of the Minister of Health, Roberto Speranza:
“The general manager of Aifa, Nicola Magrini, informed me that this morning's meeting of the Technical-Scientific Committee, after an initial analysis of the available data relating to Avigan, is developing an experimentation and research program to evaluate the impact of the drug in the initial stages of the disease. In the coming days, the protocols will be made operational, as has already happened for the other ongoing trials".
The announcement was then published on the Aifa website.
THE SUPERIOR HEALTH COUNCIL CALLS FOR CAUTION
The president of the Superior Health Council, Franco Locatelli, called for caution:
“The options to be tested and validated are one thing, and trials are welcome, it is quite another to define some therapeutic options such as la solution of such an important problem as Covid-19. Before going so far as to say that they have found definitive solutions, irrefutable proofs are needed. In the case of this specific drug, to date we do not have precise and irrefutable evidence. For this reason, I recommend caution and prudence so as not to generate hopes that could be disappointed and frustrated".
THE COMMENT OF VIROLOGIST BURIONI
The comment that the virologist Roberto Burioni entrusted to Twitter is even more cutting:
THE CLARIFICATIONS FROM THE COMPANY THAT PRODUCES AVIGAN
In the face of excessive hype that has spread online, even the company that makes Avigan, Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, issued a note clarifying that the drug is currently being administered to patients with Covid-19 in Japan for one observational study conducted by medical institutions. “We also know that Favipiravir (generic name, ed) was administered to Covid-19 patients in China – reads the note – Fujifilm played no role in the research and is therefore unable to comment on these results. There is currently no public clinical scientific evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of Avigan against Covid-19 in patients. To evaluate its efficacy and safety against Covid-19, Fujifilm plans to start a clinical study in Japan."
THE EXPERIMENTS ALREADY STARTED BY AIFA
The Italian Medicines Agency has already activated two trials to seek an effective cure for Covid19. The tests concern the drugs based on remdevisir and tocilizumab: the first substance is antiviral, while the second is used against rheumatoid arthritis (produced by Roche, it has also been authorized in China).
THE INCENTIVES STARTED
Invitalia, the Development Agency, let it be known that the new incentives provided for by the #CuraItalia Decree have started. A total of 50 million euros are available to support Italian companies that want to expand or convert their business to produce fans, masks, glasses, gowns and safety suits. These are resources which, falling within the state aid regime, were authorized in less than 48 hours by the European Commission.
Companies of all sizes can access the incentives, as long as they carry out an investment program worth between 200 thousand and 2 million euros, which will be subsidized up to 75% with an interest-free loan (zero interest rate). There is also a bonus system linked to the speed of intervention, which transforms the loan into a non-repayable fund at 100% if the investment is completed in 15 days; 50% if completed in 30 days; 25% if completed in 60 days. Upon admission of the project, an immediate advance of 60% of the subsidies is also provided, granted without guarantees.
