Research Progress in Clinical Applications of Antiviral Drugs for Lassa Fever

doi:10.19803/j.1672-8629.20250485

Abstract

Abstract: Objective To summarize recent advances in antiviral drugs for Lassa fever (LF) and provide insights into current therapeutic bottlenecks. Methods Such databases as PubMed, Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched for literature about the clinical efficacy of favipiravir, ribavirin, and immunotherapy, as well as the mechanisms of promising small-molecule drugs. Results Favipiravir, ribavirin, and immunotherapy all proved to be effective against LF. Desirable outcomes resulted from ribavirin in combination with either favipiravir or dexamethasone. However, the appropriate dosage of ribavirin and course of treatment remained controversial, and there was too little evidence to recommend ribavirin for routine treatment of LF. Moreover, the cardiac safety of favipiravir needed to be assessed. However, a variety of small-molecule inhibitors promised wide applications. Conclusion Although no specific antiviral drug has been approved globally for the treatment of LASV, significant progress has been made in developing candidate therapeutics that target different stages of the viral life cycle. Combination therapy and multi-target strategies will be priorities of subsequent research.

Key words: Lassa Fever, Lassa Virus, Antiviral Drugs, Immunotherapy, Small-Molecule Inhibitor, Research Progress

CLC Number:

R978
R994.11

WANG Ranran, MA Ruize, CHEN Zhihai. Research Progress in Clinical Applications of Antiviral Drugs for Lassa Fever[J]. Chinese Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2025, 22(12): 1321-1327.

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https://zgywjj.magtechjournal.com/EN/Y2025/V22/I12/1321

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