Report Thailand Ramps Up Covid Drug Production Amid Rising Cases

[webfact]

File photo for reference only

 

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) of Thailand is ramping up the production of the antiviral drugs favipiravir and molnupiravir. This comes as Covid-19 infections are on the rise due to the highly contagious JN1 strain. Despite mild symptoms, this strain is spreading rapidly, even among those with prior infections, reports GPO director Mingkwan Suphanpong.

 

The surge in cases is attributed to public gatherings and the ongoing rainy season, with Covid-19 now considered an endemic disease in Thailand. In a recent report, from May 18 to May 24, officials recorded 53,597 new Covid-19 cases and five additional deaths. This brings this year's total fatalities to 46 in the country.

 

Since early May, around 1.75 million favipiravir pills and 3.36 million molnupiravir capsules have been produced. To meet the increasing demand, the GPO has expedited the distribution process. Medicines have been dispatched to 13 hospitals in Bangkok and surrounding provinces as of May 24, and to 315 medical facilities nationwide by Monday. Further deliveries are scheduled for Wednesday and early next week.

 

The GPO has also secured extra raw materials to boost drug production and ensure readiness for any emergencies. Adjustments in production will occur based on prevailing conditions, it stated.

 

Health officials recommend the public continue wearing masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, and refrain from touching their faces. Immediate medical attention is advised if symptoms escalate.

 

Virology expert Yong Poovorawan projects that Covid-19 cases this year may surpass last year’s total. Nonetheless, the disease's severity is on the decline, leading to fewer fatalities and encouraging patients to opt for home treatment. He anticipates that the current Covid surge will peak with the start of the new school term and taper off from late June through July.

 

He also warns of potential influenza and other respiratory viruses post-Covid outbreaks from July to November.

 

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin assured the public that medicine and supplies are adequate, stating there are no plans for school closures, merely health screenings. However, he cautioned that vulnerable groups still face higher risks.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-05-28

 

 

[daveAustin]

11 minutes ago, webfact said:

Health officials recommend the public continue wearing masks in crowded places, maintain hand hygiene, and refrain from touching their faces. Immediate medical attention is advised if symptoms escalate.

So we’re still permitted to do it face to face then?

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

with Covid-19 now considered an endemic disease in Thailand

Been endemic and non-severe for years. As for the jabs there plenty of evidence to say take at your own risk. 

[dinsdale]

CDC Stops Recommending COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women and [Healthy] Children

https://time.com/7288915/cdc-covid-19-vaccines-pregnant-women-children/

[arick]

The drugs are even proven to help.

[khunjeff]

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

CDC Stops Recommending COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women and [Healthy] Children

https://time.com/7288915/cdc-covid-19-vaccines-pregnant-women-children/

 

More accurately, that decision was made by RFK Jr.

 

"“This decision bypasses a long-established, evidence-based process used to ensure vaccine safety and ignores the expertise of independent medical experts, including members of the CDC committees who are examining the evidence regarding the vaccine to make recommendations for the fall,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases"

[newbee2022]

Wow, and now I'm awaiting all those comments of claiming all this COVID stuff is a hoax and orchestrated by Big Pharma business. 

And about the mRNA vaccine will destroy our lives.

Hello Alu-Hats, come out now and start. 

Can't wait for a good laugh. 🤗😂🥰

[dinsdale]

17 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

More accurately, that decision was made by RFK Jr.

 

"“This decision bypasses a long-established, evidence-based process used to ensure vaccine safety and ignores the expertise of independent medical experts, including members of the CDC committees who are examining the evidence regarding the vaccine to make recommendations for the fall,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases"

Yep. MAHA. 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, daveAustin said:

So we’re still permitted to do it face to face then?

If she wears a paper bag... of two if it's a double bagger..

[carlyai]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

If she wears a paper bag... of two if it's a double bagger..

You mean a 'four pegger'.

[Purdey]

RFK jr. The bicycle shop repair guy who tells scientists how to built a rocket.

[hotchilli]

4 minutes ago, carlyai said:

You mean a 'four pegger'.

No I mean what I said...

[Caldera]

Do these drugs actually work? Those with a severe case would probably need to start treatment early on, when they don't even know that they're headed towards severe illness yet? As most Covid infections are mild nowadays, that could be a real challenge  

[BangkokHank]

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Wow, and now I'm awaiting all those comments of claiming all this COVID stuff is a hoax and orchestrated by Big Pharma business. 

And about the mRNA vaccine will destroy our lives.

Hello Alu-Hats, come out now and start. 

Can't wait for a good laugh. 🤗😂🥰

I would like to recommend that YOU get vaccinated again. I am happy to remain unvaccinated.

[JJ-Thailand]

Had Covid last week. Was sick as a dog for a few days but then it was not worse than a hangover. Now okay.

[newbee2022]

9 minutes ago, BangkokHank said:

I would like to recommend that YOU get vaccinated again. I am happy to remain unvaccinated.

😂😂😂 You're the first replying today. Thanks.

[blaze master]

Cha ching.

[crazykopite]

not for me thanks after my booster jab my immune system went out the window now i catch everything 

[jcmj]

I guess they are trying anything to make them more money and of course give the Thais an extended vacation at home. Well at least for the first few days. Covid is nothing more than a strain of flu and not a very serious one. I wish they would get off of this, but it is a money maker and time off from work. I will not wear a mask and will definitely not be taking any meds, except for the basics. My immune system can handle this, unfortunately many people who always get a shot or a tablet every time they think they have a cold will not have much of an immune system anymore. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

10 hours ago, dinsdale said:

CDC Stops Recommending COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women and [Healthy] Children

 

Correcting this for you:

 

Serial anti-vaxer and COVID misinformer RFK Jr. Stops Recommending COVID-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women and [Healthy] Children

 

The U.S. CDC under the Trump Admin. doesn't have a confirmed director at present, that being the person who normally would be responsible for making these kinds of final vaccine decisions.

 

And, on top of that, there's no evidence thus far that the CDC's staff / experts had any actual role in the RFK Jr. policy change.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 hours ago, Caldera said:

Do these drugs actually work? Those with a severe case would probably need to start treatment early on, when they don't even know that they're headed towards severe illness yet? As most Covid infections are mild nowadays, that could be a real challenge  

 

Quote

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) of Thailand is ramping up the production of the antiviral drugs favipiravir and molnupiravir.

 

Thailand has long liked favipiravir, also sold under the brand name Avigan, because the government's GPO has the rights to manufacture and sell it locally...  But there's little evidence it does much to help COVID patients, and Japan -- where the drug was developed -- previously dropped it as a COVID treatment.  And AFAIK, it was never approved or used in the U.S. or UK for COVID.

 

From 2022:

 

Japan's Fujifilm to halt enrollment in Avigan trial for COVID-19

 

March 11 (Reuters)

...

"Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he hoped Avigan would be approved in May 2020 for COVID-19, and he pledged donate supplies to needy countries.

...

...studies in Japan have been inconclusive, leading domestic regulators to hold off approval for it, partly because animal study data showed it could lead to birth defects.

 

As Avigan stumbled in clinical trials, other antiviral pills have come to the fore against COVID-19. Japan has bought millions of doses of oral treatments developed by Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and Merck & Co (MRK.N)."

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/japans-fujifilm-says-terminate-enrollment-avigan-trial-covid-19-2022-03-11/

 

 

 

Fujifilm's Avigan shows no significant benefit on COVID-19 mortality - study

 

TOKYO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A study of global trials of Fujifilm Holdings Corp's (4901.T) antiviral drug Avigan suggests it has little benefit for COVID-19 patients once their symptoms become serious.

....

But it failed to demonstrate statistically significant results in reducing mortality among those with mild to moderate COVID-19.

...

In January, Indian drugmaker Dr.Reddy's Laboratories (REDY.NS), which bought the global rights to Avigan from Fujifilm last summer, halted a clinical trial of the drug in Kuwait.

 

(more)

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fujifilms-avigan-shows-no-significant-benefit-covid-19-mortality-study-2021-02-18/

 

 

A 2024 Cochrane review of favipiravir for treating COVID found:

 

"Due to a lack of robust evidence, we are unclear if favipiravir provides any benefit in the treatment of people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infections who do not require hospital admission, as well as those admitted to hospital."

 

• We do not know if favipiravir reduces the number of people who die from COVID‐19 when compared to dummy treatment, standard of care, or other antiviral medicines. The evidence supporting this is not very strong (derived from 11 studies involving 3459 people).

 

• It is also very unclear if favipiravir reduces the need for people to be put on ventilators compared to a dummy treatment or any other antiviral treatments (derived from 8 studies involving 1383 people).

 

(more)

 

https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015219.pub2/full

 

 

 

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, BangkokHank said:

I would like to recommend that YOU get vaccinated again. I am happy to remain unvaccinated.

I got 6 comments by Alu-Hats today. Not too bad 😂😂😂

[Showtime]

Meanwhile in the real world, USA, Covid shots are now only recommended for those over 65.

[rumak]

2 hours ago, crazykopite said:

not for me thanks after my booster jab my immune system went out the window now i catch everything 

 

well , seems like the booster worked that way for a lot of people .   hmmmmmm ?

 

[johng]

6 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I got 6 comments by Alu-Hats today. Not too bad 😂😂😂

And you still claim to be a doctor ?

[ronnie50]

When I had Covid here in 2022, confirmed by ATK, the anti virals I was given on first day of symptoms at the hospital (molnupiravir) worked really well. I felt almost normal within 48 hours (outpatient). They were a generic brand made in India and imported to Thailand. 

 

For the vaccine non-sceptics, regarding the NJ.1 vaccine, many hospitals don't have it (they never stocked it/didn't order or have run out) and there's a two week waiting list for vaccine appointment at the Mahidol Travel Clinic on Ratchatewi (near Victory Monument). Not 100% clear they actually have it but it's listed on their website. You can however just walk in to the clinic and wait until all the appointments have been seen. 

[kickstart]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin assured the public that medicine and supplies are adequate, stating there are no plans for school closures, merely health screenings. However, he cautioned that vulnerable groups still face higher risks.

The local primary school where my wife's great-granddaughter attends has been shut as of today. They have had 5 cases of teachers and pupils this week.

When will it reopen? next question.

This is in Lopburi province.

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, johng said:

And you still claim to be a doctor ?

Yes, and you know what?  I don't have an Alu-Hat.

And your's? Give it to Kennedy.😂

[johng]

8 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

And your's? Give it to Kennedy.😂

 

I'll keep mine thanks,    RFFKjr  will sort out the so called doctors that refuse to treat some patients but  gleefully inject novel concoctions into other unsuspecting victims...Nuremberg 2.0 awaits  are you ready ??

[newbee2022]

14 minutes ago, johng said:

 

I'll keep mine thanks,    RFFKjr  will sort out the so called doctors that refuse to treat some patients but  gleefully inject novel concoctions into other unsuspecting victims...Nuremberg 2.0 awaits  are you ready ??

The good thing: your kind of people are only misleaded and ill informed. But you're not harmful for the overwhelming 95% of population.