Ever since the coronavirus epidemic broke out earlier this year, the world has been desperately looking for a solution, a cure for the disease. Currently, about half a dozen research centers in the world are testing vaccines. In the meantime, Hungary is testing a substance that helps to recover those who are already ill.

The medicine called favipiravir was developed in Japan and was approved by the National Institute of Pharmacy for domestic tests a few days ago. Based on the experience available so far, favipiravir is suitable for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate coronavirus infection, and is being further investigated by Hungarian medical universities and the National Institute of Pulmonology.

We received a hundred doses from Japan for these clinical trials, which is enough to treat a hundred patients in five health centers. If the clinical trial will be successful, it may take up to half a year to fully authorize the medicine, but until then, these tests will make the new type of pill available to some patients in Hungary.