Japan asks drugmakers to make more COVID-and-flu combo test kits

Groups including Roche and Denka requested to make 35-40m doses for winter

20221012 COVID Influenza combo test kit

Antigen test kits that can simultaneously determine infection with COVID-19 and seasonal influenza. (Photo courtesy of H.U. Group Holdings)

Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Japan has requested Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche and other companies to increase production of antigen test kits that can simultaneously determine infection with COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.

In response to the request, companies are taking measures to make 35-40 million doses available this winter, according to a government official, when simultaneous outbreak of COVID and flu are expected.

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