Fujifilm's favipiravir performs well in early-stage Ebola study

A study conducted in Guinea has shown that Fujifilm’s favipiravir halves mortality rates in patients in the early stages of Ebola infection, but does not help those with more advanced disease.

Denis Malvy, the study leader, said: We have no proof of efficacy, but a signal that monotherapy with favipiravir may have a place in a specific subgroup of patients.”

In 80 patients treated with favipiravir, the mortality rate for those with less advanced Ebola infection was 15% compared with 30% for less advanced patients not treated with the drug in a three-month period prior to the study.