Zydus Cadila’s antiviral drug Virafin was approved by the drug regulatory body DCGI for treating moderate COVID-19 cases. The vaccine can now be used as a restricted emergency vaccine for the treatment.

After Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V, Virafin is the fourth vaccine that’s been given a nod to be used in the fight against the COVID-19 virus.

Also read: India’s expert medical panel approves Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V for emergency use

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“Will help patients recover faster”: Zydus Cadila

“When administered early on during COVID, Virafin will help patients recover faster and avoid much of the complications. Virafin will be available on the prescription of medical specialist for use in hospital/institutional setup,” read the company’s regulatory filing.

Lesser need for supplemental oxygen

In its trial that was conducted across 20-25 centres in India, the drug showed that the patients showed lesser need for supplemental oxygen. This means that the drug was able to curb the respiratory issues and failure.

Currently the nation is facing severe oxygen shortage withs several states sending SOS, claiming they have run out of supplemental oxygen. After Virafin is administered, the patients may not have as high requirement of oxygen as they would without the vaccine. The company also claimed that the drug has shown resistance against other viral infections too.

Also read: 25 “sickest patients” at Ganga Ram hospital dies in 24 hours; Lack of oxygen supply presumed

Patients tested negative within 7 days

According to the regulatory filing, the phase 3 trials that were conducted showed that 91.15% of the adults who were administered the Virafin drug tested negative in the RT-PCR method in 7 days. This is a significant leap as opposed to the standard treatment in which only 61.18% of the patients tested negative in 7 days.

“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 regulatory filing read.

How does Virafin work?

Virafin is a pegylated interferon alpha-2b drug which is administered in a single dose under the skin (subcutaneous). If and when it’s administered in the early phases of the infection, it can replace the interferon alpha deficiency from the body.

For the uninitiated, interferon proteins are helpful in regulating the human immune system. Type 1 interferons, which are replaced when Virafin is administered, is the immune system’s first line of defence against multiple viruses and infections.

When the human body ages, its ability to create more interferon in the response to viruses weakens. This is why a lot of people who were in the higher age group of COVID-19 patients had a severe mortality rate.

In the second phase of the clinical trials, it was found that Virafin caused a significant reduction of the viral load in the COVID-19 patients. In the Phase lll of the trials, it was found that the patients who were administered Virafin showed significant improvement on the 8th day.

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“The fact that we are able to offer a therapy which significantly reduces 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,” said Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director, Cadila Healthcare Limited.

Outbreak and vaccination efforts

On April 23, 2021, India reported over 3.32 lakh new COVID-19 cases, the sharpest and highest single-day increase globally since the outbreak began last year. The death toll is at 1.86 lakh thanks to 2,263 more deaths in 24 hours. Meanwhile, over 13,83,79,832 vaccine doses have been administered so far.

The number is expected to rise after May 1 as the 3rd Phase of the vaccination drive will kick off. In the third phase, any person above the age of 18 years will be eligible to get vaccinated.

 

Also read: COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Phase 3: Starting May 1 everyone above 18 eligible to be vaccinated