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Coronavirus

Remdesivir approved as Japan's first coronavirus treatment

Step comes on heels of US authorization last week

Japan approved the use of remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19 using an expedited process.   © Reuters

TOKYO -- Japanese health authorities on Thursday approved remdesivir for use against the novel coronavirus, piggybacking on the antiviral drug's U.S. authorization in order to accelerate the process.

Remdesivir, developed by American pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, will be administered to severely ill COVID-19 patients. It is the first drug approved by Japan's health ministry to treat the virus.

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