Assoc. Prof. Dr Guzel created the first local synthesis antiviral drug for COVID-19

The local synthesis of the drug called Favipiravir, used in the treatment of COVID-19, was created in cooperation of Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Istanbul Medipol University and Atabay Pharmaceutical. The local drug was created by a team of 32, under the coordination of Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Güzel and Zeynep Atabay Taşkent, in as short as 40 days. Güzel who developed the synthesis drug, Taşkent who brought the drug to the industry level, and the president of TÜBİTAK, Prof. Dr Hasan Mandal, visited the minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank. The committee presented the first sample of the local synthesis drug, which is in the licensing phase, to the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mustafa Varank. Thus, the drug announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and planned to be used in the treatment of COVID-19 make a debut.

VARANK: I AM HAPPY AND PROUD
Making a statement during the visit, Minister Varank said that a very important drug was developed with local and national facilities. Stating that there is an opportunity for export in drug, Varank said: “We created a platform led by TUBITAK, for COVID-19 before the first cases in Turkey. We planned to maintain the coordination of basic research level with this platform. 17 projects are carried out under this platform, some development as vaccines and some as drug development projects. The making of the local synthesis of the drug Favipiravir was one of the projects we have worked. We are both happy and proud that we have achieved such a result, and that it has reached the industry level and the licensing stage.”

GÜZEL: THIS DEVELOPMENT WILL TAKE US TO THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Istanbul Medipol University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr Mustafa Güzel said that they put in to practice the local drug development project with the cooperation of university and industry. Stating that drug development studies have started 5/6 weeks ago, Güzel said, “This development, which will increase our domestic and national resources, will carry us to the champions league in this field. I didn’t think it could happen so quickly, but with a national mobilization, everyone was held on together. We managed to synthesize the drug with team spirit. ”