Japan's Shionogi eyes early 2025 for U.S. release of COVID pill

Drugmaker looks overseas for Xocova sales growth as public funds dry up at home

Shionogi President Isao Teshirogi said swift U.S. approval for Xocova would speed the process in other countries. (Photo by Keiichiro Sato)

YUKI MISUMI, Nikkei staff writers

March 12, 2024 23:37 JST

OSAKA -- Japanese drugmaker Shionogi expects to be able to sell its Xocova COVID-19 treatment in the U.S. in early 2025, part of a focus on overseas sales as public funding for coronavirus medications in Japan ends this month.

If the review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration goes smoothly and the COVID pill is released, "the review process will speed up in other countries as well," Shionogi President and CEO Isao Teshirogi told Nikkei on Tuesday.