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Coronavirus

Chinese pursuit of Avigan patent faces pushback in Japan

Fujifilm intellectual property cited as reason to 'reject' Beijing lab's application

The patent filing by China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences covers favipiravir, the generic name for Avigan, as a treatment for COVID-19.

TOKYO -- A Chinese lab attempting to patent the use of anti-flu drug Avigan for the treatment of COVID-19 is facing pushback in Japan, where the medicine was originally developed.

The Beijing-based Academy of Military Medical Sciences obtained a patent for the use of favipiravir, the chemical compound behind Avigan, in China earlier this year, and has applied for similar intellectual property rights in Japan, the U.S. and Europe.

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