Indigenous Services eyeing Canadian trial of antiviral drug that could prevent COVID-19
Indigenous Services Canada
is watching for the results of the world’s first trial to determine whether an antiviral medication developed in Japan could be used to prevent COVID-19,
according to a letter provided to CBC News.
The potential of favipiravir,
which received clearance from Health Canada for trial on May 18,has the attention of the department’s First Nation and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), according to the letter written by a senior federal official.
“At this time favipiravir is only being used in Canada in the context of research studies. ISC will be monitoring the results of these studies.”
‘First Nations should be high on the list’
Hart said First Nations should be prioritized if favipiravir is found to be effective against COVID-19.
“First Nations should be high on the list when it comes to antivirals or vaccines,” Hart said in an interview with CBC News.
“When it comes to infections and clusters, we are one of the most vulnerable populations.”
Halifax-headquartered biotechnology firm Appili Therapeutics
is funding the trials of favipiravir, which is now into its second phase,
involving 760 patients in 16 long-term care facilities in Ontario.
Those facilities have seen over 1,600 COVID-19-related deaths.
Appili Therapeutics CEO Armand Balboni
said in an email statement
that the trials aim to determine whether favipiravir can be effective not only as a treatment, but also as a prophylaxis to prevent COVID-19 illness.
https://www.google.co.jp/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5610093
Indigenous Services Canada –
Canada.ca Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) works collaboratively with partners to improve access to high quality services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
Our vision
is to support and empower Indigenous peoples to independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities.