Randomized controlled open label trial on the use of favipiravir combined with inhaled interferon beta-1b in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 102; pp. 538 - 543
• Main Authors: Khamis, Faryal, Al Naabi, Hanan, Al Lawati, Adil, Ambusaidi, Zaiyana, Al Sharji, Mariam, Al Barwani, Umkulthum, Pandak, Nenad, Al Balushi, Zakariya, Al Bahrani, Maher, Al Salmi, Issa, Al-Zakwani, Ibrahim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Amides - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine - administration & dosage; Interferon beta-1b - administration & dosage; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrazines - administration & dosage; SARS-CoV-2 - drug effects; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.11.008

•Favipiravir and inhaled interferon compared with with hydroxychloroquine for moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.•No difference between the 2 groups was found in time to recovary, inflammatory markers or improvement of oxygenation.•No differnece was found between the 2 groups in transfer to ICU or mortality. To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of favipiravir combined with inhaled interferon beta-1b in adult patients hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. A randomized, open-label controlled trial of oral favipiravir in adults hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia from June 22nd 2020 to August 13th 2020 was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a combination of favipiravir with interferon beta-1b by inhalation aerosol or hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The outcome endpoints included improvement in inflammatory markers, lower length of hospital stay (LOS), discharges and lower overall 14-day mortality. A total of 89 patients underwent randomization with 49% (n = 44) assigned to favipiravir and 51% (n = 45) assigned HCQ. The overall mean age was 55 ± 14 years and 58% (n = 52) were males. There were no significant differences in the inflammatory biomarkers at hospital discharge between the two groups; C-reactive protein (p = 0.413), ferritin (p = 0.968), lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.259) and interleukin 6 (p = 0.410). There were also no significant differences between the two groups with regards to the overall LOS (7 vs 7 days; p = 0.948), transfers to the ICU (18.2% vs 17.8%; p = 0.960), discharges (65.9% vs 68.9%; p = 0.764) and overall mortality (11.4% vs 13.3%; p = 0.778). No differences in clinical outcomes were found between favipiravir plus inhaled interferon beta-1b and hydroxychloroquine in adults hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia.