AVIGAN not approved for COVID-19

Drug not suitable for COVID-19

By Indika Sri Aravinda

A drug gifted by Japan has not been approved to be used on COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) said.

NMRA board member and Consultant Physician at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (IDH) in Angoda, Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema told The Daily Mirror, the drug named AVIGAN has not been tested to be used on COVID-19 patients.He said that while the dug was gifted to Sri Lanka it has not yet been used on any anyCOVID-19 patient even in Japan.

NMRA board member Dr. A. LakKumar Fernando said that the tablet has not yet been tested on humans to confirm if it will cure them from the deadly virus.

Fernando said laboratory tests are now being conducted on AVIGAN to confirm if it can be used to cure coronavirus patients.

NMRA also cautioned that there could be side effects when the tablet is used.

The Government Medical Officers Association said that they have also not authorized doctors to issue the drug for COVID-19 patients.

GMOA Executive Committee Member Dr. Prasad Colombage said that until the drug is tested and it is confirmed that it works, it should not be authorized.