Use of Favipiravir to Treat Lassa Virus Infection in Macaques

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Sep;24(9):1696-1699. doi: 10.3201/eid2409.180233. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Abstract

Lassa virus, the cause of Lassa fever in humans, is endemic to West Africa. Treatment of Lassa fever is primarily supportive, although ribavirin has shown limited efficacy if administered early during infection. We tested favipiravir in Lassa virus-viremic macaques and found that 300 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks successfully treated infection.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Veterinary
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Amides / administration & dosage
  • Amides / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Injections, Subcutaneous / veterinary
  • Lassa Fever / drug therapy
  • Lassa Fever / veterinary*
  • Lassa virus / isolation & purification*
  • Macaca*
  • Monkey Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Pyrazines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazines / therapeutic use*
  • Random Allocation
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Amides
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Pyrazines
  • favipiravir