Thailand produces cheaper domestic “Favipiravir” to treat COVID-19

[webfact]

 

By Woraprat Lerpaisal

   

BANGKOK (NNT) - "Favipiravir" has been used for some time to treat COVID-19 patients in Thailand. As a result, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization has now produced the medicine locally, and this week, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has given approval to the product.

 

Demand for such a medicine is around 300,000 tablets per day, or 9 million tablets per month. To help meet the demand, the GPO has produced the medicine and received the necessary approval from the FDA. The domestically produced version of Favipiravir is expected to be available for prescription next month.

 

GPO’s Specialist Nantakarn Suwanpitakkun says that the medicine produced in Thailand will be around half the cost of the imported one.

 

She confirms the Favipiravir produced in Thailand is of the same quality as the imported medicine. There is a production capacity of 2-4 million doses per month.

 

One patient needs around 70 tablets, depending on the patient’s weight and severity of the symptoms.

 

According to the Public Health Ministry’s guidelines, Favipiravir is used for high risk patients with mild symptoms, and cases where pneumonia has developed, together with Chloroquine, Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Darunavir/Ritonavir.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-07-23

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

[mtls2005]

 

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

Demand for such a medicine is around 300,000 tablets per day, or 9 million tablets per month.

 

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

One patient needs around 70 tablets

 

Yikes, how many patients are there?

 

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

There is a production capacity of 2-4 million doses per month.

 

OK. So you'll continue to buy from Japan, the country from which you appropriated the IP. Bold move.

 

 

 

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/file/guidelines/g_treatment.pdf

 

[MrJ2U]

"GPO’s Specialist Nantakarn Suwanpitakkun says that the medicine produced in Thailand will be around half the cost of the imported one."

 

Thats because Thailand charges 35% tax on this life saving medication.

 

 

 

[MrJ2U]

 

 

 

There using "Chloroquine" to treat COVID-19, I thought that was debunked

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

 

 

 

There using "Chloroquine" to treat COVID-19, I thought that was debunked

What are you talking about.  Favipiravir is not "Chloroquine"

[MrJ2U]

8 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

 

 

Yikes, how many patients are there?

 

 

OK. So you'll continue to buy from Japan, the country from which you appropriated the IP. Bold move.

 

 

 

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/file/guidelines/g_treatment.pdf

 

You have to download that link.  Not many people will want to download an unknown file.

 

Do you a link to the article?

[internationalism]

"There is a production capacity of 2-4 million doses per month."

how a reputable, large and long established pharmaceutical company can be so imprecise in estimating their production capacity.

did their directors were employed at TAT or some other government agency, where figures and plans are just random musings 

[GroveHillWanderer]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

What are you talking about.  Favipiravir is not "Chloroquine"

From the article:

 

"Favipiravir is used [...] together with Chloroquine"

[ncc1701d]

My gf was given:

 

Favipiravir(200 mg /tab

Lopinavir / ritonavir (LPV/r)

Rendesivir 

Corticosteroid  

 

and has to wait for 90 days to be vaccinated as this is her second time getting COVID-19 (original then delta). Although I’m told this is the case if you’ve been given “monoclonal antibodies” as well.

[connda]

Let me guess.
Thais  -  FREE

Foreigners - 100,000 THB or feel free to die

[BestB]

Is it not called generic ? And while it contains same ingredients it is not of the same quality. 
 

does not mean it’s worse, but most certainly not the same in terms of quality.

 

Have tried many generics and results not always the same as original  

[MrJ2U]

40 minutes ago, BestB said:

Is it not called generic ? And while it contains same ingredients it is not of the same quality. 
 

does not mean it’s worse, but most certainly not the same in terms of quality.

 

Have tried many generics and results not always the same as original  

Exactly same ingredients and quality.

Many times made at the same medical facilities so they can sell both drugs to make money. 

 

Some doctors wont prescrbe the generic equivalent unless you request it.  They can get bonuses prescribing the more expensive of the medicines from the manufacturer.

 

 

 

 

[MrJ2U]

12 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

What are you talking about.  Favipiravir is not "Chloroquine"

Theres mention of using chloroquine in addition to Favipiravir towards the end of the article.

 

[BestB]

17 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Exactly same ingredients and quality.

Many times made at the same medical facilities so they can sell both drugs to make money. 

 

Some doctors wont prescrbe the generic equivalent unless you request it.  They can get bonuses prescribing the more expensive of the medicines from the manufacturer.

 

 

 

 

Ok, maybe you can explain why and how Panadol works faster and better than some generic cheap brand with 100% identical ingredients, same applies for clarytine, and a dozen more that I I have personally tried and tested to see the difference

[steven100]

On 7/23/2021 at 10:25 AM, webfact said:

One patient needs around 70 tablets

says alot about it's effectiveness.     Nooooooooooooo  thanks,  I'll pass

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

Ok, maybe you can explain why and how Panadol works faster and better than some generic cheap brand with 100% identical ingredients, same applies for clarytine, and a dozen more that I I have personally tried and tested to see the difference

It doesn't.

 

Sounds psychological.

 

Have you talked to your doctor about this?

If you feel this way I would recommend getting the original.  

In the end the only difference is the price. 

 

 This from the FDA:

"Generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts."

 

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, clivebaxter said:

Nonsense post, neither cholroquine nor ivermectin are 'Trump drugs' and both a perfectly safe, unless you take a large overdose of chloroquine

Trump really hyped Chloroquine despite having no medical knowledge.

 

It's not much use for COVID-19.  Confused why Thailand is using it.

 

Your right though Trump didn't invent it although he strongly promoted it as a treatment for COVID-19.

 

Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19, and probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation. Hydroxychloroquine caused more unwanted effects than a placebo treatment, though it did not appear to increase the number of serious unwanted effects.

 

That original post was very odd though. (Not yours)

Edited July 24, 2021 by MrJ2U
Added

[internationalism]

hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were on WHO list from March to September.

Very many national health authorities recommended them, together with azithromycine.

Thailand still is using it, good to know.

My friend just got paracetamol for her multiple covid symptoms. And nothing else.

Even any placebo would help her to get better over 14 days+ lonely home isolation. 

[MrJ2U]

On 7/23/2021 at 5:57 PM, ThailandRyan said:

What are you talking about.  Favipiravir is not "Chloroquine"

They mentioned using Chloroquine along with Favipiravir in the article.

[Danderman123]

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were on WHO list from March to September.

Very many national health authorities recommended them, together with azithromycine.

Thailand still is using it, good to know.

My friend just got paracetamol for her multiple covid symptoms. And nothing else.

Even any placebo would help her to get better over 14 days+ lonely home isolation. 

Please provide a link to your assertion that these worthless medications (for Covid) were on the "WHO list". 

[MrJ2U]

On 7/23/2021 at 9:45 PM, ncc1701d said:

My gf was given:

 

Favipiravir(200 mg /tab

Lopinavir / ritonavir (LPV/r)

Rendesivir 

Corticosteroid  

 

and has to wait for 90 days to be vaccinated as this is her second time getting COVID-19 (original then delta). Although I’m told this is the case if you’ve been given “monoclonal antibodies” as well.

COVID-19 twice.

Mild or severe?

 

At least she can go to Phuket.

 

 

[internationalism]

9 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Please provide a link to your assertion that these worthless medications (for Covid) were on the "WHO list". 

I do know and still remember FDA giving an approval and WHO conducting research, but you can google. That's why in many countries was widely used til  end of summer.

That's why thailand is still using it.

As well as tamiflu, which they have successfully used in january 2020 to treat several patients.

Edited July 25, 2021 by internationalism

[ncc1701d]

10 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

COVID-19 twice.

Mild or severe?

 

At least she can go to Phuket.

 

 

She said the original felt like a really bad cold. She said delta felt like she had been hit by a truck. She was actually thinking she wasn’t going to make it. That’s how bad it was. Progressed to her lungs and put on a ventilator. Had her lying down on her front for some reason. Plus all the drugs. Once she was off the respirator, they asked if she wouldn’t mind moving back to a hotel so that others could use the room with a respirator. Plenty lined up to take her place.

 

yes, my plan was to meet her in Phuket in Jan. But that’s looking (optimistically) 50/50 at this stage.

Edited July 25, 2021 by ncc1701d

[mtls2005]

On 7/23/2021 at 7:19 PM, MrJ2U said:

You have to download that link.  Not many people will want to download an unknown file.

 

Do you a link to the article?

 

Well, it is a government website, so as they say, it's your call.

 

That said, and interestingly the link is dead now.

 

Hmm.

 

Nevermind, 

 

This site can’t be reached     ddc.moph.go.th took too long to respond.

 

PING request: response timed out

 

it's dead.

 

Edited July 25, 2021 by mtls2005

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, ncc1701d said:

She said the original felt like a really bad cold. She said delta felt like she had been hit by a truck. She was actually thinking she wasn’t going to make it. That’s how bad it was. Progressed to her lungs and put on a ventilator. Had her lying down on her front for some reason. Plus all the drugs. Once she was off the respirator, they asked if she wouldn’t mind moving back to a hotel so that others could use the room with a respirator. Plenty lined up to take her place.

 

yes, my plan was to meet her in Phuket in Jan. But that’s looking (optimistically) 50/50 at this stage.

Thank goodness she pulled through.

Be patient you'll get there.  

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

This site can’t be reached     ddc.moph.go.th took too long to respond.

 

PING request: response timed out

 

it's dead.

 

Link is back up...

 

https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/eng/file/guidelines/g_treatment.pdf

 

<but intervac is now dead>

[simon43]

[quote]

...Had her lying down on her front for some reason.

[/quote]

 

That helps!  When I used to get bad lung infections back in the UK (aspergillosis), lying on your front and hanging over the side of the bed helps to clear the liquid out of your lungs, simply due to gravity.

[Danderman123]

3 hours ago, internationalism said:

I do know and still remember FDA giving an approval and WHO conducting research, but you can google. That's why in many countries was widely used til  end of summer.

That's why thailand is still using it.

As well as tamiflu, which they have successfully used in january 2020 to treat several patients.

My Google shows that various governments restricted use of this medicine  to clinical trials.

Edited July 25, 2021 by Danderman123

[MrJ2U]

On 7/24/2021 at 7:12 PM, internationalism said:

azithromycine

Thats a strong antibiotic used a lot for bacterial bronchitis, great stuff.  Wouldn't help with a virus like COVID-19.

 

Maybe for a secondary infection of the lungs.

[internationalism]

azithromycin has also anti-inlammatory and antiviral properties. Was used for MERS, but is also used for zika, even as a preventative.

Another antibiotic, doxycycline, is used with ivermectin.

Some other antibiotics are also used, including IV.

Bacterial and fungal infections are common with long hospital stays