Syrup version of Covid medication developed

Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences have jointly developed a liquid form of favipiravir to expand treatment options for Covid-19 patients who have difficulty taking medication orally.

Nithi Mahanonda, CRA secretary-general and director of the Chulabhorn Memorial Hospital, said the academy and Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medica Innova co-developed favipiravir syrup to treat Covid-19 patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets such as children, people with throat diseases and the elderly.

Favipiravir has been commonly used to treat influenza but studies have shown it can alleviate severe symptoms of Covid-19 in the early stages.

The development of the favipiravir syrup has been an initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana.

Dr Nithi explained the syrup contains no sugar. Essential ingredients for making the drug are carefully selected and subject to production control processes that meet international manufacturing standards.

The syrup, a clear orange-coloured liquid with a raspberry flavour, comes in two bottle sizes -- 800mg in 60ml and 1,800mg in 135ml. The patients are instructed to take it when their stomachs are empty, two times a day.

Doctors seeking favipiravir syrup will be able to obtain the drug starting from Friday. To attain the drug, documentary proof must be provided of the children and the elderly having tested positive for Covid-19 by the RT-PCR method or the antigen rapid test.

The prescription drug is given out free of charge. The Chulabhorn Memorial Hospital is able to produce enough favipiravir syrup for about 100 patients a week.