Dr Shashank Joshi, a member of the state Covid task force, said people should stop panic-buying the drug. “The rush for the drug is unfounded. It has restrictions on use and should be given only during the first nine days. It s a drug that only reduces viral replication in the body. It does not have the potential to reduce mortality. No study of the drug, worldwide, has shown an ability to reduce mortality,” Dr Joshi said.
He added doctors may be prescribing the drug, which cuts hospital stay, to make more beds immediately available for more Covid patients.
A senior doctor, another member of the state Covid advisory group, said favipiravir is the only other antiviral being recommended besides remdesivir. However, favipiravir has better impact if administered during the first five to six days of Covid onset.
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Using data from cancer genomes, researchers can ascertain how cancers develop through mutations or over-activation of certain genes. However, Indians cancer genomes vary from those of the West, which makes it important to build an Indian database. Thats what the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas will enable, sharpening the approach towards fighting the disease in the country.