Japan offers Avigan for free to countries fighting coronavirus

Positive early trials spur requests from 30 nations for Fujifilm flu drug

Avigan

Avigan, the trade name of the drug favipiravir, developed by a subsidiary of Japan's Fujifilm Holdings, has been found effective against COVID-19 in Chinese clinical testing. © Reuters

YUKI FUJITA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- The flu drug Avigan will be made available at no cost to countries that ask for it to treat the novel coronavirus, the Japanese government announced Friday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference that about 30 countries have sought Avigan through diplomatic channels. "We are making arrangements to provide it for free," he said.

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