Journal Article

Efficacy of Favipiravir (T-705) in Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis

Noguchi, Kazuko, Komeno, Takashi, Furuta, Yousuke, Nishizono, Akira, Yamada, Kentaro

2016

Overview

Rabies is a fatal encephalitis caused by rabies virus (RABV), and no antiviral drugs for RABV are currently available. We report for the first time the efficacy of favipiravir (T-705) against RABV in vitro and in vivo. T-705 produced a significant, 3–4 log10 reduction in the multiplication of street and fixed RABV strains in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 32.4 μM and 44.3 μM, respectively. T-705 significantly improved morbidity and mortality among RABV-infected mice when orally administered at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day for 7 days, beginning 1 hour after inoculation. T-705 significantly reduced the rate of virus positivity in the brain. Furthermore, the effectiveness of T-705 was comparable to that of equine rabies virus immunoglobulin for postexposure prophylaxis. Collectively, our results suggest that T-705 is active against RABV and may serve as a potential alternative to rabies immunoglobulin in rabies postexposure prophylaxis.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Amides - administration & dosage / Amides - pharmacology / Amides - therapeutic use / Animals / Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage / Antiviral Agents - pharmacology / Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use / Cell Line / Disease Models, Animal / Major and Brief Reports / Mice / Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - methods / Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data / Pyrazines - administration & dosage / Pyrazines - pharmacology / Pyrazines - therapeutic use / Rabies - drug therapy / Rabies - virology / Rabies virus / Treatment Outcome / Viral Load - drug effects / VIRUSES