The company has claimed that 91.15% of covid 19 patients treated with virafin were RTPCR negative by day 7

A Thread on "Virafin"

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What Virafin is composed of?

As per Zydus Cadila its drug ‘Virafin’ is used for treating moderate cases of COVID-19 in adults. It is chemically Pegylated Interferon Alpha-2b. It ’showed clinical and virological improvement in moderate COVID-19 cases.

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For what it was originally approved?

The drug was originally approved for liver disease Hepatitis C and launched in India 10 years ago. For hepatitis C it is typically used with ribavirin and cure rates are between 33 and 82%. It is being repurposed to treat COVID-19.

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Claims being made?

The pharma company said that the treatment reduces hours of supplemental oxygen in patients,help patients recover faster and avoid many complications.

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Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in moderate COVID-19:
A phase II, randomized, controlled, open-label study

Concludes that significant improvement in clinical status on day 15 is likely due to faster viral reduction compared to SOC
https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712%2821%2900232-0/fulltext

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Some experts don't find it promising & accuses "Zydus Of marketing useless drugs in needful times" They say " Interferon was never an antiviral It's an immune mod. which is why it was initially used for viral clearance & Trying 2 repurpose it with weak evidence isn't right

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