Antiviral efficacy of favipiravir against Zika and SARS-CoV-2 viruses in non-human primates.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has exemplified that rigorous evaluation in large animal models is key for translation from promising in vitro results to successful clinical implementation. Among the drugs that have been largely tested in clinical trials but failed so far to bring clear evidence of clinical efficacy is favipiravir, a nucleoside analogue with large spectrum activity against several RNA viruses in vitro and in small animal models. Here, we evaluate the antiviral activity of favipiravir against Zika or SARS-CoV-2 virus in cynomolgus macaques. In both models, high doses of favipiravir are initiated before infection and viral kinetics are evaluated during 7 to 15 days after infection. Favipiravir leads to a statistically significant reduction in plasma Zika viral load compared to untreat

SUBMITTER: Marlin R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9427089 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature