The Institute of Chemistry under VAST recently announced it has managed to cut the synthesis process for Favipiravil, an antiviral medication, from seven-eight reactions to only three. It means production costs would be cheaper and more suitable for Vietnam's production capabilities, researchers said.

Tablets of Favipiravir are used to treat Covid-19.

Favipiravil's mechanism is similar to Remdesivir, another antiviral medication. Remdesivir has been used to combat the coronavirus in certain countries like China, Japan and Russia. Favipiravil itself has also been authorized for treating Covid-19 in Japan, India and Russia under emergency provisions. It is now in its third phase of human trials for treating Covid-19 in certain countries.

The research to shorten the synthesis process began last August to limit Vietnam's dependency on imported drugs, said researchers.

"The team would continue to refine and stabilize the synthesis process while scaling it up. We expect to patent it," said Nguyen Van Tuyen, head of VAST.

Vietnam entered its fourth wave of Covid-19 community transmission on April 27 and since then, 12,788 infections have been registered in 48 cities and provinces.

Bac Giang still leads the infection count with 5,667 confirmed cases, followed by HCMC with 3,494.

More donors contribute to national Covid-19 vaccine fund

The national Covid-19 vaccine fund received over VND 6.6 billion from 17 sponsors at a ceremony on June 24.

PM: Vietnam must be able to produce Covid-19 vaccines no later than June 2022

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested accelerating the transfer of vaccine production technology and the testing and production of home-grown vaccine for Covid-19, so that Vietnam will be able to produce Covid-19 vaccines no later than June 2022.

Vietnam's new Covid wave infection tally crosses 11,000

Vietnam recorded 79 more local Covid-19 cases in nine localities Friday morning, raising the number of patients recorded in the ongoing wave to 11,014.

Vietnam records 37 more domestic Covid-19 patients

The infection tally of Vietnam's new Covid-19 wave rose to 10,694 on Thursday morning with 37 new cases added.

Bac Giang strives to restrict Covid-19 pandemic to prevent any new case since July 1 to recover socio-economic growth

(BGO) – Chairman of the Bac Giang provincial People’s Committee (PPC) Le Anh Duong on June 22 chaired a teleconference about disease prevention with districts and city.

Source: VnExpress