Mechanism of action of favipiravir against SARS-CoV-2: Mutagenesis or chain termination?

Mechanism of action of favipiravir against SARS-CoV-2

Favipiravir is a novel broad-spectrum antiviral drug against RNA viruses that has been approved for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The use of favipiravir is a potential therapeutic approach to SARS-CoV-2 infection; several clinical trials have shown that favipiravir could effectively improve the clinical recovery and/or viral RNA clearance of patients, with proven safety profiles.1,2 Favipiravir is a prodrug and its active form, favipiravir ribofuranosyl-triphosphate (FTP), inhibits viral replication by targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp).

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100165

Citation:
Zhao L., Zhong W. (2021). Mechanism of action of favipiravir against SARS-CoV-2: Mutagenesis or chain termination? The Innovation. 2(4),100165.