Clinical and economic evaluation of the use of favipiravir in treatment regimens for COVID-19

Background. Currently, sufficient information has been accumulated the literature on the clinical effectiveness and safety of favipiravir in adult patients with COVID-19, including cases of its use in intensive care units and in comorbid patients. This article sum­marizes the latest published data from clinical studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including data from real-life clinical prac­tice. A number of studies have conducted a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the use of favipiravir in adult patients with COVID-19. Objective. To evaluate pharmacoeconomic efficacy of the use of favipiravir in adult patients with non-severe forms of COVID-19 in a Rus­sian hospital seetings. Materials and methods. On the basis of the clinic of the Russian University of Medicine a non-interventional clinical study was per­formed, including 201 patients with mild COVID-19. Patients were divided into two groups: with favipiravir therapy or without it. Results. A reduction in hospitalization time by 2 days was demonstrated in patients with COVID-19 receiving favipiravir, which leads to the reduction in hospitalization costs for 1 patient in the amount of RUB 16,643.69. Conclusions. Thus, various data on the use of favipiravir for COVID-19 allow us to demonstrate pharmacoeconomic benefits, both in terms of budgetary savings and a positive impact on reducing the burden on the healthcare system and improving key medical statistics, including morbidity and mortality.