Japanese approval sought for Avigan to treat COVID-19

Fujifilm drug could receive the green light by year-end

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Japan had aimed to approve Avigan as a coronavirus treatment in May but could not secure enough clinical-trial subjects. © Reuters

YUKINORI HANADA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Fujifilm Holdings will soon apply to produce and sell its Avigan antiviral drug as a treatment for the new coronavirus in Japan, Nikkei learned Sunday.

The health ministry could give the go-ahead this year, making Avigan the third drug overall and the first domestically developed drug to receive such approval. Japan previously approved dexamethasone and remdesivir as coronavirus treatments.

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