Name: Hazel Garcia Section: 2y1 – Irr 1 CRITICAL THINKING – ANTI VIRAL DRUGS Question: With the condition the world is facing at the moment, CoViD19 scare and no medications available yet, these antiviral drugs are currently under investigation. What can you say about these agents and their possible role in CoViD 19? 1. FAVIPIRAVIR 2. REMDESIVIR 3. INTERFERON BETA Answers: FAVIPIRAVIR (T-705) Route: Oral & Intravenous is an antiviral drug being developed by Toyama Chemical (Fujifilm group) of Japan with activity against many Ribonucleic Acid viruses. It is a pyrazinecarboxamide derivative. Favipiravir was conducted to animals against influenza viruses, yellow fever virus, foot and mouth disease. The agent has also shown some efficacy against rabies and has been used experimentally in some humans infected by the virus. So, in February 2020 Favipiravir antiviral drug was being studied in the country of China for experimental treatment of the emergent CoViD19 the novel corona virus diease. While on March 17, 2020, Chinese officials suggested that the drug had been effective in Wuhan and Shenzhen. REMDESIVIR (G S-5734) Route: Intravenous – is a novel antiviral drug in the class of nucleotide analogs. It is an adenosine analogue, which incorporates into nascent viral Ribonucleic Acid chains and causes their pre mature termination. Developed by Gilead Sciences as a treatment for Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus infections. Remdesivir was found to show antiviral activity against other single stranded Ribonucleic Acid viruses such as Hendra Virus, Junin Virus, MERS and SARS viruses. Gilead provided remdesivir to physicians who treated an American patient in Snohomish Country, Washington in 2020, who was infected with SARS – CoV – 2 and is providing the compound to China to conduct a pair of trials in infected individuals with and without severe symptoms. Laboratory tests suggest remdesivir is effective against a wide range of viruses, including MERS CoV and SARS CoV. The medication was pushed to treat the West African Ebola Virus of 2013-2016. INTERFERON BETA or INTERFERON BETA 1A Route: Subcutaneous or Intramuscular injection – is a cytokine in the interferon family used to treat multiple sclerosis. It is produced by Mammalian cells, while interferon beta -1b is produced and modified in E-coli. Interferons are not a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. Interferons may slow the progress of the disease if started early and continued for the duration of the disease. Interferon Beta-1a is available only in injectable forms, that can cause skin reactions at the injection site that may include cutaneous necrosis. Skin reactions with interferon beta are common in subcutaneous administration and vary greatly in common in their clinical presentation. Skin reactions are more prevalent in women. Mild skin reactions usually do not impede treatment whereas necroses appear in around 5% of patients and lead to discontinuation of the theraphy.
