EXPLAINED | Zydus Cadila's Single Dose 'Virafin' To Be Used For Covid Treatment, Know How It Works

When administered early on during COVID-19, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications, the company said in the press release.

New Delhi: On Friday, the Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) gave emergency approval to Zydus Cadila’s anti-viral drug, Virafin. The drug,Pegylated Interferon alpha-2b (PegIFN), will be used to treat moderate COVID-19 infection in adults. 

In a release, Cadila Health highlighted that "the drug has also shown efficacy against other viral infections."

According to ANI, Dr Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Cadila Healthcare Limited was quoted as saying, "The fact that we are able to offer a therapy which significantly reduces the viral load when given early on can help in better disease management. It comes at a much-needed time for patients and we will continue to provide them access to critical therapies in this battle against COVID-19". 

How 'Virafin' works:

A single-dose subcutaneous regimen of the antiviral Virafin will make the treatment more convenient for the patients. When administered early on during COVID-19, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications, the company said in the press release.

Virafin is already being used for the treatment of hepatitis C which also occurs due to a virus. However, in 2004, when the SARS outbreak took place (which is the first variant of coronavirus), studies conducted at the time demonstrated that this drug is also effective in the treatment of SARS. Therefore, now it has been repurposed to treat Covid-19.

Promising results:

In its Phase III clinical trials, the therapy had shown better clinical improvement in the patients suffering from COVID-19. During the trials, a higher proportion of patients administered with PegIFN arm were RT-PCR negative by day 7. The drug ensures faster viral clearance and has several add-on advantages compared to other anti-viral agents, the release further reads.

Side effects:

According to media reports, like most drugs, Virafin too has shown some side effects. According to a New18 article, some people are likely to develop influenza-like symptoms, and in some cases, there can be risks of altering blood composition and causing neuro-psychiatric disturbances which makes it essential to take only after consulting a doctor. 

As per records on Saturday given by the health ministry, India reported 3,46,786 new COVID 19 cases, 2,624 deaths and 2,19,838 discharges in the last 24 hours. India is currently, battling the second wave of Covid-19 which has brought the healthcare system to the brink of collapse so a drug like Virafin is crucial to treat patients at the earliest so that their condition doesn't worse.