PIONEER
A Randomised Controlled Trial of Early Intervention in Patients Hospitalised with COVID-19: Favipiravir and standard care versus standard care
A randomised controlled trial of early intervention in patients hospitalised with COVID-19: Favipiravir and standard care versus standard care
- Chief Investigator: Prof Pallav Shah
- IRAS ID: 282405
- Open: May 2020–May 2021
The PIONEER study investigated the efficacy of the anti-viral medication Favipiravir, in patients admitted to hospital with suspected or proven COVID-19.
A total of 503 patients were enrolled across 5 sites situated in the UK, Brazil and Mexico, between May 2020 and May 2021. The study was sponsored and coordinated by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and NEATID. The results suggest 'Favipiravir does not improve clinical outcomes in all patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, however, patients younger than 60 years might have a beneficial clinical response. The indiscriminate use of favipiravir globally should be cautioned, and further high-quality studies of antiviral agents, and their potential treatment combinations, are warranted in COVID-19.'