The new syrup form of Favipiravir antiviral COVID-19 medication, developed by Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA), Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Thai research organization Medica Innova, will be available for infected children and the elderly for free at Chulabhorn Hospital in Bangkok from this Friday (August 6^th).

The sugar-free, orange-coloured and raspberry-flavoured syrup will be given to no more than 100 COVID-19 patients per week and is only available on prescription. The focus will be on children, people aged 70 and over and others who have difficulty swallowing tablets, according to CRA Secretary-General Dr. Nithi Mahanonda yesterday (Tuesday).

The dose is either 800mg/60ml or 1,800mg/135ml. It is to be taken twice a day, with an interval of 12 hours. For children, on the first day, 60mg/kg is to be taken twice. On the following days, 20mg/kg is to be taken twice per day. For adults, on the first day, 1,800mg is to be taken twice. On the following days, 800mg is to be taken twice a day. For those weighing over 90kgs, or with a high BMI, 2,400mg is to be taken twice on the first day, and 1,000mg dosages to be taken twice a day on the following days.

To receive the syrup, a COVID-19 positive test result and a doctor’s prescription must be presented to the hospital.

Favipiravir is an anti-viral drug first used to treat influenza in Japan and is now used to treat COVID-19 patients.

The Ministry of Public Health is planning to purchase 40 million tablets of favipiravir in September.